Peterborough Blogs
Trent University Hosting Feeding Our Spirit: 48th Annual Elders Gathering This Weekend
/Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples will come together at Trent University in Peterborough and Durham filled with learning, community and connection as part of the 48th annual Elders and Traditional Peoples Gathering, hosted by the First Peoples House of Learning (FPHL) and the Chanie Wenjack School for Indigenous Studies from Friday to Sunday.
“Every year, the Elders and Traditional Peoples Gathering brings together elders, knowledge holders, community members, students and allies for a weekend of learning and renewal,” says Dr. Dawn Memee Lavell-Harvard, director of FPHL. “This year’s theme centres on the importance of land-based learning and cultural connection through teaching, performance arts and traditional foods. The Elders Gathering is a celebration of First Nations, Inuit and Métis vibrancy and resiliency.”
The Elders and Traditional Peoples Gathering allows attendees to share in First Nations, Métis and Inuit cultural knowledge through workshops, presentations, and performances. This year’s theme is focused on culture and land-based reclamation.
Keynote Addresses
This year’s Gathering features keynotes from high profile Indigenous leaders, including:
Niigan Sinclair, assistant professor from University of Manitoba, popular media commentator on Indigenous issues, and son of Senator Murray Sinclair;
Tony Belcourt, founding president of both the Native Council of Canada and the Métis Nation of Ontario;
Albert Marshall, elder from the Mi’kmaw Nation who coined the phrase Two-Eyed Seeing/ Etuaptmumk as a principal for cross-cultural collaborative work;
Dr. Sylvia Maracle O.C., former executive director of the Ontario Federation of Friendship Circles and Trent honorary degree recipient; and,
Jessica Outram, citizen of the Métis Nation of Ontario, author of the newly released middle-school novel Bernice and the George Bay Gold, grade school educator and an instructor in Trent’s School of Education.
Trent’s Durham campus in Oshawa will host the Gathering on Friday, with an address by Dr. Sylvia Maracle, fire teachings and a drum circle, along with an Indigenous vendors market.
Performances
Performance art takes centre stage throughout the weekend with opening ceremony highlights on Friday night including:
Drum group Medicine Sky with pow wow dancer Kelli Marshall
Inuit throat singers Heidi Langille and Lynda Brown
Métis fiddler Alicia Blore and Métis jigger Auriele Diotte
Fashion show by Anishnaabe designer Ocean Kiana
Film screening in partnership with ReFrame Film Festival.
On Saturday evening, Michi Saagiig artist Mr. Sauga will perform in the Great Hall of Champlain College.
Workshops
Interactive workshops to be held throughout the weekend include Inuit throat singing, Métis fiddling and jigging, language lessons, Inuit Elder teachings with Sheepa Papatsie, and smoking fish, among many others.
A special highlight of the weekend is a sold-out feast on Saturday evening, which will feature the unveiling of the crest and colours of the University’s newest college, Gidigaa Migizi College, named in honour of beloved alum, professor and community leader, Doug Williams ’69.
All Elders Gathering activities, except the sold-out feast on Saturday, are open to members of the community. Admission is $30; free for Elders, students, and youth under 24. All tickets include lunch, admission to all keynotes and workshops, and access to the vendor market.
Indigenous Insights, the Elders Gathering pre-conference sponsored by the Provost’s Lecture Series for Reconciliation, will be held on Friday, February 9 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in collaboration with Trent University, Peterborough Public Health, Fleming College and Nogojiwanong Friendship Centre. Dr. Darrel Manitowabi, Northern Ontario School of Medicine, will deliver the keynote, Fostering Mino-Bimmaadiziwin: Indigenous Health in the 21st Century, followed by a panel of Indigenous health and cultural experts.
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YMCA and Nogojiwanong Friendship Centre Partner To Create Provide Recreational Opportunities For Urban Indigenous Youth
/After a Community Development Grant from Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities, the YMCA of Central East Ontario has partnered with the Nogojiwanong Friendship Centre’s Waawiye Kinoomaagzijig Alternative School Program to create a recreational platform for urban Indigenous youth announced on Tuesday.
The youth are from the Waawiye Kinoomaagzijig Alternative School Program and have been granted recreational instruction, access to recreational facilities and specialized classes.
The two-hour program occurs twice a week at the YMCA of Central East Ontario, Balsillie Family Branch. Activities may include weight training, powwow dancing, self-defence and more. The second day is dedicated to free time with available activities such as basketball, pickleball, swimming and conditioning.
“We are excited for this opportunity to partner with the YMCA, supported by a generous grant from Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities,” says Ashley Safar, Nogojiwanong Friendship Centre executive director. This partnership and funding will increase access and enhance our ability to provide engaging and culturally enriching recreational programs tailored to the needs and interests of youth in our Waawiye Kinoomaagzijig Alternative Secondary School Program.”
This funding covers YMCA staff assistance and instruction, external instructors, equipment, transportation and gym clothing for the participants. The grant aims to remove any financial obstacles and ensure Indigenous youth’s engagement in the program.
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Trent University’s Newest College to be Named Gidigaa Migizi to Honour Professor Doug Williams
/To honour and celebrate the memory of the late Gidigaa Migizi (Doug Williams), Trent University is naming its sixth college will be named Gidigaa Migizi College.
The Gidigaa Migizi College is being built on the east bank of the Symons Campus in Peterborough. The building will include as many as 700 new beds for first-year students and classrooms, faculty offices and student spaces. The University expects it to open in the fall of 2028. The new college crest, scarf and colours will be unveiled next year.
“This naming is a testament to Trent’s ongoing commitment to recognizing and celebrating Indigenous culture and heritage,” said Marilyn Burns, vice president of Trent communications and enrolment. “Gidigaa Migizi, a respected elder and a pillar in the Michi Saagiig Anishnaabeg and Trent communities, has left a lasting legacy that will continue to inspire and educate our students for generations to come. Gidigaa Migizi College will stand as a beacon of knowledge, diversity, and respect, embodying the spirit of inclusivity and learning that is at the heart of Trent University.”
The professor, elder, and community leader was known for his dedication to Trent students and for protecting Anishnaabeg's treaty rights.
The decision to select an Anishnaabe name for the new college was a recommendation of the University’s Champlain Report to honour the treaty and traditional territory on which Trent University sits, according to a press release. Meaning ‘spotted eagle’ in English, the name Gidigaa Migizi College was recommended by the University’s Elders and Traditional Knowledge Keepers Council and approved by Trent’s Board of Governors.
“Gidigaa Migizi was a giant both at Trent and in the Anishnaabeg nation. He was a champion of knowledge, of learning, of students and of our community,” said Anne Taylor, Curve Lake First Nation Elders Council member. “In our culture, eagles are held in high esteem and symbolize honour, respect, strength, courage, and wisdom. These are all characteristics we want Trent students to embody.”
Migizi was one of the first graduates of Trent University’s Native Studies (now Indigenous Studies) program. After graduating, he remained involved with Trent, helping shape academic programs, administrative policies, and cultural practices and advancing education about Indigenous peoples.
He was co-director of the Indigenous Studies Ph.D. program and a professor at the Chanie Wenjack School for Indigenous Studies. Migizi served on the University’s Indigenous Education Committee and the Elders Council. Before joining Trent as a student and then as a faculty member, Gidigaa Migizi was a bricklayer who helped build Champlain College at the University.
Migizi was an active negotiator for the legal recognition of treaty rights. His greatest accomplishment in this arena was the advocacy work he undertook in the precedent-setting case R v. Taylor and Williams, working through the court system to bring legal recognition of pre-confederation treaty rights through the interpretation of Treaty 20, 1818. As a result of this landmark case, he defended the right to hunt and fish for signatories to the Williams Treaties as stated by Trent.
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Innovation Cluster Introduces Barry Payne as Expert in Residence to Propel Indigenous Entrepreneurship
/The Innovation Cluster welcomes entrepreneur and champion of Indigenous business development Barry Payne as its latest Expert in Residence.
Payne’s appointment is a testament to the Innovation Cluster's commitment to fostering an inclusive innovation ecosystem, particularly extending the reach of its entrepreneurship program to Indigenous communities.
He comes with a wealth of entrepreneurial experience with both Indigenous and non-Indigenous owned businesses. A proud member of Hiawatha First Nation, he started his journey with Adirondack Technologies Furniture Inc., transforming it from a basement startup to a nationally recognized organization. He is also currently the Indigenous procurement ambassador at Procurement Assistance Canada, where he has the opportunity to work with both Indigenous and non-Indigenous owned companies to help them consider the federal government as a client.
"I am excited to take on this new role at the Innovation Cluster, which has demonstrated a sincere commitment to inclusion and Indigenous business growth,” said Payne. “As a member of Hiawatha First Nation and an entrepreneur, I understand the potential within our communities. I look forward to extending the reach of the entrepreneurship program and supporting the growth of Indigenous owned businesses."
As the Innovation Cluster’s new ExIR, Barry will provide mentoring to clients, helping them navigate government funding, optimize networking, and offering invaluable business advice. His involvement aims to bridge the gap between Indigenous communities and the entrepreneurship landscape, tapping into the Indigenous peoples' growing business creation rate, which is currently nine times that of the average Canadian.
In this new partnership, Payne’s commitment to working with Aboriginal companies and his expertise will significantly benefit all clients at the Innovation Cluster. His learned lessons will be a critical guide to both Indigenous and non-Indigenous entrepreneurs.
"We are honoured to have Barry Payne join us as an Expert in Residence. His unique perspective and experience will undoubtedly provide invaluable guidance for our clients and further our mission to drive innovation-focused, entrepreneur-led economic growth in the region, which must include Indigenous communities,” said interim CEO Nicole Stephenson. “At the Innovation Cluster, we understand the importance of Indigenous owned businesses in Canada's economy, and we're excited about our part in shaping the future."
Stephenson further emphasized the organization's dedication to fostering a diverse, purpose-driven workplace. "We're proud to not only talk about diversity but to make it part of our operational fabric. Partnerships like the one with Barry are critical to an inclusive and diverse community of entrepreneurs. It's an exciting time at the Innovation Cluster, and we can't wait to see the growth and development that will stem from this partnership."
City of Peterborough Community Activities for National Indigenous History Month and Pride Month 2023
/Activities are being held throughout the community, including at City of Peterborough facilities, for residents to take part in National Indigenous History Month and Pride Month in June.
Highlights from the activities at City of Peterborough facilities:
Art Gallery of Peterborough
250 Crescent St.
Exhibition: Special Project: Tea with the Queens, June 7 to June 29, 2023
Opening reception for new exhibitions, June 7, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Afternoon Tea with the Queens, June 11 and 14, 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. and June 11, 13, and 22, 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Indigenous Day Celebrations at Hiawatha First Nation: Art Gallery of Peterborough tent; June 17, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Peterborough Public Library
345 Aylmer St. N.
PA Day Family Movie: Indigenous Cinema Shorts for Children, June 9, 10:15 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.
Crafternoon: Beaded Rings with Malinda Gray, June 10, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Teen Book Club: Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley, June 13, 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunset Story Time with Betty Baker, June 16, 6:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Non-fiction Book Club: Unreconciled: Family, Truth, and Indigenous Resistance by Jesse Wente, June 20, 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Summer Solstice Story Time, National Indigenous Peoples Day at Millennium Park, 130 King St., June 21, 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.
10 Indigenous Titles You Should Read this Month featured at the Seniors Showcase, Peterborough Sport and Wellness Centre, 775 Brealey Dr., June 21, 10:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.
Tween Book Club: Barren Grounds by David Robertson, June 22, 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Friday Film & Discussion: Voices Across the Water, June 23, 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Adult Book Club: A Minor Chorus by Billy-Ray Belcourt, June 27, 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Legacy Space, open during library hours
Peterborough Museum and Archives
300 Hunter St. E.
‘To Honour and Respect: Gifts from the Michi Saagiig Women to the Prince of Wales’ exhibit, open during museum hours until mid-November
Quillwork Workshops, June 21, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., registration required
Pride Flag Scavenger Hunt, during open hours all through June
Pride Craft based on the book ‘My Rainbow’ and Stories station, during open hours all through June
Indigenous Day Kids Crafts, June 21, during open hours
Interpretive tours of the ‘To Honour and Respect: Gifts from the Michi Saagiig Women to the Prince of Wales’ exhibit, available June 21, watch for details on the Museum website and social media