Collaborative Community Builders Retreat – Miguel’s Reflection

In January 2026, thanks to financial support from Women and Gender Equality Canada, Righting Relations partnered with the John Humphrey Centre to bring 25 young people together at the Ciel et Bois retreat lodge for the Collaborative Community Builders Retreat; this is the second in a series of reflection from some of those participants. This reflection was shared by Miguel Fenrich on his website.

On his blog, Miguel Fenrich reflects on his experience at the Collaborative Community Builders Retreat in January 2026:

First, I gained valuable knowledge and connections with folks across the country (Halifax, Montreal, Toronto, Hamilton, Winnipeg, Regina, Calgary, Edmonton, and even rural Alberta near BC and the NWT border). Secondly, it broadened those oh-so-important horizons as an artist, activist, and cultural worker. Third(ly?), it helped me strengthen my own craft/work here in Saskatchewan, because I learned so much from those peer-led education sessions.

For example, do know how to engage your community while building a community garden? Or start up a peer-led non-profit? Or make zines? Or develop your storytelling skills for use in activism? Or engage with the United Nations to make change? Or understand the triangle of system change evaluation?

I didn’t either. But now I’m well on my way!

Of course, I also offered my own presentation. Any guesses? Well, as a surprise to nobody, I offered a five-minute micro examination on effective engagement with the media.

Miguel goes on to share five tips for artists and activists to remember when engaging with the media, which are essential in raising the profile of your event/protest/art. We wholeheartedly encourage you to read the full post on Miguel’s blog, especially the media engagement tips! He also shares a beautiful reflective poem that he wrote during the experience that is well worth a read. Click here to go there now! Thank you so much Miguel for being with us at this event, and for sharing your thoughts and your knowledge with us all!

Miguel Fenrich (he/him) is a queer, black professional artist living and playing on Treaty 6 Territory in Saskatoon. As a Truthteller and Future Historian, his work often explores community/culture/care through an intersectional, anti-racist, and decolonial lens.

He is the author of Blue: a Novel and What Lies in the Valley. He is the President of the Saskatchewan Writers’ Guild, is a recipient of the QEII Platinum Jubilee Medal, and is a 2026 CBC Sask. Future 40 Winner. He is a recipient of the 2025 Tony & Herb Rainbow Award through the Saskatchewan Foundation for the Arts, and is working on his third novel with support from SK Arts. Visit Miguel’s website here!