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The Athabasca Peace Initiative (API) was a group of interested Athabascans who initially met in January 2003 to respond to initiatives from the United Nations International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World, and the World Council of Churches Decade to Overcome Violence. Members met monthly to learn about and discuss aspects of peace as related to developing and implementing a vision for a peace institute based in Athabasca, and to research, teach and support peace making and peace keeping in families, communities and the world. They researched the possibility of a peace-initiative program that could be delivered by Athabasca University. API hosted peace walks, candlelight vigils, discussion groups, and prayer services. Between 2004 and 2009 they hosted annual ethnic dinners and presentations. They cosponsored the 2nd Annual Alberta Peace Education Conference with Athabasca University and Edwin Parr Composite School in 2004. They sponsored the White Ribbon Campaign Community Forum on Family Violence Prevention in November 2006. They also cosponsored environmental presentations, the Athabasca River Basin Conference in June 2007, hosted two “Entertaining Peace” concerts, hosted a monthly peace-related film series, and acknowledged those “found making peace” in the community by sending them a card. Through the years, the scope of the group expanded to addressing human rights issues, environmental concerns and family violence prevention. Two initiatives that evolved from or were created by API were Athabasca and Area Prevention of Relationship Abuse and Keepers of the Athabasca. Founding members were Bruce Jackson, Cecile Fausak, Rhonda DeLorme, David and Rosaleen Gregory, Jerry and Lynne MacLean, Kelly Johnston, Louis and Annamarie Schmittroth, and Ann Stiles.