Thank you, Merci, Miigwech to all who shared their talents, time, teachings, songs, stories, and art. It was a beautiful day!
Saturday, April 1, 2023
Kitchissippi United Church, 630 Island Park Drive, Ottawa
REGISTRATION REQUIRED!
To register or to find out more email Pamela Naymark
Registration is limited!
Coffee, Tea and Treats are available!
Indigenous artisan fair by local artists!
This is a non-profit event. The suggested donation is $25 for the morning activities and $25 for each of the afternoon workshops. Your donation will go directly to the artists and facilitators. Any additional profits go towards local Indigenous wellness and reconciliation efforts. Please reach out to Pamela if you are unable to pay.)
Free admission for Elders
See below for the schedule and bios of the faciliators.
Our Morning Program begins at 9 am and goes until 12 noon.
The suggested donation for the morning is $25 and includes:
Opening and traditional Algonquin Teachings and readings from “I am a human being”
Traditional Algonquin teachings as shared by Albert Dumont and official opening of the day. What is reconciliation and what is our role as non-Indigenous and Indigenous peoples and how we can work together to make a better country and tomorrow.
Sharings from “I am a human being” an anthology of poetic perspectives on the topics of love, death, support, honour and other emotions contained in the human heart. A few poets will be present to read their own creations!
Key Speaker and Facilitator: Albert Dumont, “South Wind”, Anishnabee Elder, Poet, Storyteller and spiritual advisor. Albert Dumont, “South Wind”, is a Poet, Storyteller, Speaker, and an Algonquin Traditional Teacher. Albert has dedicated his life to promoting Indigenous spirituality and healing and to protecting the rights of Indigenous peoples, particularly the young. He is the father of three daughters (one died at childbirth) and grandfather of five grandchildren. Albert is the Founder of Turtle Moons Contemplations. He was born in traditional Algonquin Territory (Kitigan Zibi). He has been walking the “Red Road” since commencing his sobriety in 1988. He has published six books of poetry and short stories and two children’s books, written in three languages. Initiated poetry contest ‘I am a Human Being’ as English Poet Laureate for Ottawa in 2022, resulting in an anthology of the poems submitted. Several organizations, both native and non-native, are currently featuring his poetry in their promotions, among them are the Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health and the Native Veterans Association. Ottawa’s Poet Laureate – April 2021 to April 2023. From October 2016 to February 2020 he served his community as one of 13 Elders on the Elders Advisory Committee of the Ministry of the Attorney General. He worked as Elder for the Parole Board of Canada at Elder Assisted Hearings from November 2013 to March 2017. He was the Spiritual Advisor for Aboriginal offenders of J Unit at Millhaven Institution from October 2010 to October 2013. He was awarded the Public Service Alliance of Canada – National Capital Region (PSAC NCR) 2010 Human Rights Recognition Award. In January 2017 he received the DreamKEEPERS Citation for Outstanding Leadership. He is available to perform Ceremonies, as a Speaker, and as a Spiritual Advisor. Contact info.albert.dumont@gmail.com for books and booking.
Smudge Teachings and Advancing reconciliation youth from a Youth Perspective
Intergenerational resilience, and the importance of Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth voices and becoming activist
Facilitator: Kyrstin Dumont, Kitigan Zibi Algonquin Anishinaabekwe Activist, youth knowledge keeper and educator . She has dedicated her life to the Indigenous community through her advocacy and activism work with organizations such as UNICEF Canada, the Child Welfare League, OCDSB and C.A.S. where she is able to shed light and awareness on issues that affect herself and her community. Kyrstin manages to find time to model and work with Indigenous designers and artists as well as continuously furthering her knowledge in traditional Indigenous art forms.
Inuit games and cultural sharings
Participants will have the opportunity to explore Inuit culture, history and language as well as the impact of the environment through experiential learning and cooperation. Participants will learn about traditional Inuit games (One Foot High Kick, Kneel Jump, Airplane, and Knuckle Hop). Participants will be able to understand how the roles and culture of the Inuit people were embedded physical games that focus on developing agility, strength, flexibility, and endurance. Traditional games were not only a form of entertainment, but also helped to develop skills that were essential to their survival: strength, agility, flexibility, and endurance.
Facilitator: Stranger (‘Aalla’, ᐋᓪᓚ ᐋᓪᓚ) grew up knowing nothing little about Inuit culture and struggling with addiction. Now, he teaches children about the language and traditions in Ottawa at the Inuit Children’s Centre and is a well-known and loved facilitator; regularly holding workshops in schools throughout the Ottawa area teaching Inuit culture and history. His daughter a professional throat singer Samantha Kigutak-Metcalfe, performs with Cailyn Degrandpré, as the professional throat-singing duo Tarniriik.
Live music by Kevin Schofield, the 'Tennessee Cree'
Ongoing throughout the morning!
Artist: Kevin Schofield, also known as the Tennessee Cree, weaves a guitar performance with pow-wow chanting with lyrics that tell the tale of major cultural and lifestyle shifts in Indigenous minds, way of life and the psychological turbulence of being born of Cree and Scottish descent. Contact him for any bookings Tennesseecree@gmail.com
Our Afternoon Program begins at 1 pm and goes until 3:30 pm.
The suggested donation for the afternoon is $25 PER workshop.
The Blanket Exercise
An experiential workshop that helps people to understand how the colonization of this land impacts those who were here long before settlers arrived. The exercise is important to understanding how the impact of colonization impacts ourselves, our families, our communities and both Indigenous and non-Indigenous nations.
Facilitators: Jackie Tenute M.A., M.S.W. and Hillory Tenute, M.A. Our amazing facilitators offer workshops as the Otter Daughters Consulting; Made up of two generations of intergenerational survivors. The daughter-mother Anishinaabekwe consulting duo are of the Otter and Thunderbird clan from the Chippewas of Nawash First Nation in Neyaashiinigmiing (Cape Croker) on the Bruce Peninsula. Learn more at their website https://www.otterdaughters.com/
Red Dress Beading Workshop
Make a beaded red dress and enhance your awareness about Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG)
Facilitator: Roberta Anderson of Roberta Anderson Designs is a Residential School Survivor | Artist | Indigenous | Entrepreneur | Grandma | Mother | Wife | Creative Designer | and Beadworker. Among many other accomplishments and work with Manitobah Mukluks, Roberta has beaded a purse owned by Sophie Grégoire Trudeau. She has also made tiny moccasins that were given as a gift to the king and queen of Bhutan.
