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Moving Forward Together: An Indigenous and Refugee Community Feast

Bringing together local Syrian refugee families, other Newcomers and Indigenous families to share and discover each others' cultures and commonalities across their differences is the focus of a community potluck feast this Friday evening (May 20) at the Canadian Canoe Museum from 4 pm to 8 pm -- and everyone is invited!

Coordinated by the Nogojiwanong Youth Solidarity Initiative (NYSI), with the support of Community Race Relations Committee of Peterborough and numerous other local organizations, 'Moving Forward Together: An Indigenous and Refugee Community Feast' hopes to connect guests through food, cultural presentations, intergenerational/intercultural games, and more.

Inspired by the belief that there exist many similarities between our community's most recent and original inhabitants despite their obvious differences, the organizers feel that it is essential for Newcomers to be provided opportunities to meet with this land's First Peoples and begin to build beneficial relationships that will strengthen our region and country at large.

Special guests include an Anishinaabe Kwe (Indigenous Women) hand-drumming group; hoop dancer Beanie John from Kehewin Cree Nation, Alberta; drummer Jean Paul Mohammed; singer Sherri-Anne Medema; and MP Maryam Monsef.

TRACKS Youth Program staff will also provide kid-friendly activities for the little ones. All in all, it promises to be a unique, fun and meaningful family event at the arrival of spring.

It is open to all immigrants, people from all walks of life, all genders, all abilities, and all faith groups -- all are welcome!

Nogojiwanong YSI is a youth-led, Peterborough community-based project that aspires to promote understanding, reconciliation and unity among Canada's peoples by bringing together Indigenous and Newcomer/immigrant youth in shared spaces of intercultural dialogue, creativity and experiential learning. It looks forward to recreating and expanding upon this type of gathering in the future.

Please contact Mehrangiz at mehranmonsef@trentu.ca or Andy at andy.gee.bee@gmail.com for questions, comments, and/or to volunteer.

Earlier Event: May 20
23rd Annual Fireworks Sale