—Day 2 Presenters—
Saturday, March 20th
REWRITING PROPHESY: OUR VISION FOR THE FUTURE GENERATIONS
Workshop Description
Staring with the end in mind, what kind of Indigenous person do we need to develop who will have the traditional ethics, Indigenous problem-solving skills and enough creativity to face the future head on, unflinching, in order to build a thriving Indigenous community within the context of Global Climate Change?
Rick Hill
Rick Hill is from the Six Nations of the Grand River First Naiton. He taught in Native American Studies at the State University of New York at Buffalo for twenty years; Served as Museum Director, Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico, then became Assistant Director of Public Programs at the National Museum of the American Indian, part of the Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC; developed and managed the Indigenous Knowledge Centre, Six Nations Polytechnic, Ohsweken, ON; Currently is an independent scholar working on the use of traditional stories at the Everlasting Tree School, a Waldorf-based Mohawk language immersion school.
STAR TEACHINGS
Mary Moose
Mary was born in Northern Ontario by the Hudson Bay area. She was saved by her Grandfather during the boarding school era where she spent most of her childhood. From there she was raised traditionally by her Grandparents learning the culture and traditional star stories of both the Ojibwe and Ininiwok (Cree) tribes. She likes to be called Bwaananaabekwe. Mary is a fluent speaker in both languages Mary has been traveling all over Ojibwe country together with her son Mishiikenh (Abe Sutherland) teaching the knowledge of the stars. Together they share winter time stories on how the stars relate to our clan system, ceremonies, and overall our way of life as Anishinaabe through the four seasons and four directions.
THROAT SINGERS
Workshop Description:
Sisters Aneeka and Abigail will demonstrate traditional Inuit throatsinging. Throatsinging is a game typically played by Inuit women, and often ending in joyous laughter. Aneeka and Abigail will sing traditional Inuit throatsongs, as well as share some history and mechanics of throatsinging. In addition to this, Aneeka and Abigail will speak on their individual experiences as Urban Inuit, and share what about their culture makes them most proud. They will also answer any questions, and may even have some brave volunteers give throatsinging a try!
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Abigail Carleton
Abigail Carleton is a throatsinger of almost 14 years, taught by her older sister. Abigail loves any opportunity to share her culture with those who are willing to listen, especially if accompanied by her sisters, Aneeka and Charlotte. Abigail has her BSW, and would love to use it to help Indigenous people. She currently works as a public servant within the government of Canada.
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Aneeka Anderson
Aneeka Anderson is Inuk from Pangnirtung, Nunavut, though she was born and raised on Algonquin territory in Ottawa, Ontario. She has been throat singing since her birth sister Charlotte taught her as a young girl. She is currently in her fourth year of her undergrad at McGill University where she studies Political Science and Anthropology.
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KEYNOTE ADDRESS
Workshop Description
"Without A Whisper – Konnon:Kwe", uncovers the hidden history of the profound influence Indigenous women had on the beginnings of the women’s rights movement in the United States. Before the first women’s rights convention in Seneca Falls in 1848, European colonial women lacked even the most basic rights, while Haudenosaunee women had a potent political and spiritual voice and authority in all aspects of their lives. The contact that the early suffragists had with Haudenosaunee women in New York state shaped their thinking and had a vital impact on their struggle for equality that is taken for granted today. The film follows Mohawk Bear Clan Mother Louise Herne and Professor Sally Roesch Wagner as they seek to correct the historical narrative about the origins of women’s rights in the United States
Louise McDonald
Wakerakatste (Wa-geh-lah-gats-the) Louise McDonald Herne is a condoled Bear Clan Mother for the Mohawk Nation Council. She is a trusted advisor for families and community youth and works closely with them in their homes and schools. She bestows traditional names in the longhouse and provides spiritual counsel for all those seeking support. Through her work as a matrilineal leader and as a mother, she is a founding member of Konon:kwe (Goh-noon-gwe) Council, a circle of Mohawk women working to reconstruct the power of their origins through education, empowerment and trauma-informed approaches.
Currently a Spirit Aligned Legacy Leader, Louise has presented at the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues and lectures regularly at universities throughout Canada and the United States on Haudenosaunee philosophies and self-determination regarding women. Louise, affectionately known as Mama Bear, is the Distinguished Scholar in Indigenous Learning at McMaster University Institute for Innovation and Excellence in Teaching and Learning (MIIETL).
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Katsitsionni Fox
Katsitsionni is an artist, filmmaker and educator from the Mohawk Territory of
Akwesasne. Her debut film was the award winning “Ohero:kon - Under the Husk” a 26- min documentary following the journey of two Mohawk girls as they take part in their traditional passage rites to becoming Mohawk Women. Katsitsionni received the Jane Glassco Award for Emerging Filmmaker at the imagineNATIVE Film Festival in 2016 as well as the Achievement in Documentary Filmmaking Award at LA Skins Fest in 2016. This film received funding from Vision Maker Media and has been broadcast on many PBS stations since 2017. She directed and co-produced a short - doc series for REMATRIATION - a Native American women's online, multi-media magazine. It is focused on healing and empowerment of Native women through the sharing of their stories and successes. Her most recent film is "Without a Whisper -
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Konnón:kwe” the untold story of how Indigenous women influenced the early suffragists in their fight for freedom and equality. Without a Whisper received an audience award at Woods Hole Film Festival, Best Short Film Winner at Female Voices Rock Film Festival and Best Documentary Short at Red Nations Film Festival. The film is currently being broadcast on PBS Plus. Katsitsionni has been selected as a 2021 Nia Tero Storytelling Fellow, focused on “amplifies Indigenous creatives working on innovative projects rooted in culture, environment and story.”
BEYOND THE PROPHECIES: THE DAWN IS OURS
Workshop Description
We will briefly discuss some major points of the Prophecies both Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabek Nation to understand the environmental implications and the shifts in human nature. What does daily spiritual direction say about the road ahead? How will we activate and apply the sacred knowledge that we have been provided in First Law and in sacred communication with the Spirit in order to secure the future for the next Seven Generations?
Diane Longboat
Kahontakwas Diane Longboat, BA, BEd, MEd is a member of the Turtle Clan, Mohawk Nation at Six Nations Grand River Territory, Canada and a citizen of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. She is a ceremonial leader, traditional teacher and healer. Diane is founder of Soul of the Mother, a Healing Lodge on the shores of the Grand River at Six Nations Grand River Territory, with extensive relationships with First Nations in Canada, the United States and globally.
NWAACHGE: READING THE SIGNS
Workshop Description
This presentation will focus on sayings and stories about the way Anishinaabe people read various signs given by animals, birds, and weather patterns to predict future events.
Alan Corbiere
Alan Ojiig Corbiere, Bne doodem (Ruffed Grouse clan), is an Anishinaabe from M'Chigeeng First Nation on Manitoulin Island. He was educated on the reserve and then attended the University of Toronto for a Bachelor of Science, he then entered York University and earned his Masters of Environmental Studies. During his masters studies he focused on Anishinaabe narrative and Anishinaabe language revitalization. For five years he served as the Executive Director at the Ojibwe Cultural Foundation (OCF) in M'Chigeeng, a position which also encompassed the roles of curator and historian. He also served as the Anishinaabemowin Revitalization Program Coordinator at Lakeview School, M'Chigeeng First Nation, where he and his co-workers developed a culturally based second language program that focused on using Anishinaabe stories to teach language. He is now an assistant professor in the History Department at York University.
INUNNGUINIQ: MAKING A HUMAN BEING
Workshop Description
Inuit Elders tell of being born on the land and learning how to survive the harsh climate of the Arctic by observing those around them. Although babies are most often delivered in hospitals now, traditional child-rearing practices remain part of everyday life. The family's role is vital in raising a healthy human being that will grow up and contribute to their community. Reepa and Karen will share some of the traditional practices today that have been handed down from generation to generation. Inuit societal values focus on the importance of the family as a safe place for children to learn and grow. Children are the center of family life. We will look at the traditions involved in birthing, naming, feeding, teaching, and raising healthy, capable human beings. Reepa and Karen will also share the story of their open, traditional adoption of Karen's daughter Aneeka whom she adopted from Reepa.
Karen Baker-Anderson
Karen retired from the role of Executive Director of Inuuqatigiit, formerly called the Ottawa Inuit Children's Centre, in 2019. As the founding Executive Director, working with the Board of Directors and various Community stakeholders, she enabled Inuuqatigiit to identify and develop culturally relevant services to meet Inuit families' growing needs. The agency grew from one program, an Inuit Head Start Program, to over 20 unique programs, including a childcare center. Visionary and community-focused, Karen looks forward to seeing how she can share her 25 years' experience to help others. She is passionate about children, families, and the community.
Elder Reepa Cvic-Carleton
Reepa was born in Cumberland Sound, Nunavut, but lived on the land until her family was relocated to the community of Pangnirtung when she was 5 years old. Ms. Evic-Carleton’s work experience included 10 years as a Housing Manager in Pangnirtung and one year as Community Social Worker in Child Protection. In 1989 she moved to Ontario. She has worked as a Family Support Worker at Tungasuvvingat Inuit for several years where she worked closely with the CAS Ottawa, the AODS committee of Ottawa and extensively with the Canadian Centre for Substance Abuse while faclitating the groundwork to translate the first Inuit specific trauma and addictions treatment curriculum from Inuktitut to english. Reepa co-founded the Mamisarvik Healing Centre, the first INuit specific trauma and addicitons treatment centre in Southern Canada. In 2019 she presented at the hearings on Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women.
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OFFERING WORDS OF WISDOM PANEL
Elder Mary Moose
See above
Elder Verna DeMontigny
Verna DeMontigny was born in her parents’ home at Fort Ellice Municipality, Manitoba in a small Metis community known as Fouillard’s Corner.
Verna is the daughter of Jean Louis Fleury and Josephine Marie Ledoux. She was born to a large family totaling 11 siblings, 4 sisters, 5 brothers and 2 brothers from a former marriage.
Maintaining her strong Cultural traditions and her ancestral Language which is Michif, Verna after retiring became a Michif Language Co-ordinator for the Southwest Region’s Michif Language Program, a Professor at Brandon University and a Michif Language teacher for Brandon School Division. She has worked with various Michif Language Linguists by transcribing Michif Language material and many other ways to preserve her ancestral Language that she loves so much.
Verna is also an accomplished craftswoman and a successful Storyteller. She loves beading, making Sashes, rugs, preserving berries, food, and sewing. She loves to work with her hands.
Verna DeMontigny, born 1951, has preserved the knowledge and ancestral Language that was passed on to her from her parents and ancestors. She has experienced many changes, from being raised in a small Métis Community ,living in a log cabin , living the traditional way of life, raising her family as a single parent, going back to school after 32 years and working tirelessly to preserve the Oral teachings and Language that was handed down to her.
Verna believes that language and traditional practices are the Cornerstones of The Metis Culture.
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Elder Tom Porter
Tom was born in Akwesasne and St. Regis Ontario into the Mohawk and belongs to the bear clan. Tom strives to revitalize traditions of native Americans with a special focus on language revitalization. He is an author and a widely respected teacher of Mohawk traditions.
Elder Shirley Williams
Shirley Williams, Professor Emeritus, Elder, Activist, Nishnaabemowin Language. Shirley is a member of the Bird Clan of the Ojibway and Odawa First Nations of Canada. Her Anishinaabe name is Migizi ow Kwe meaning Eagle Woman. She was born and raised at Wikwemikong, Manitoulin Island and attended St. Joseph’s Residential School in Spanish, Ontario. After completing her NS diploma, she received her BA in Native Studies at Trent Univer-sity and her Native Language Instructors Program diploma from Lakehead University in Thunder Bay. Shirley received her Master’s Degree from York University in Environmental Studies. In June of 2004, Shirley retired from the Indigenous Studies Department and now holds the title, Professor Emeritus
Elder Reepa Cvic-Carleton
See above
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Elder Oren Lyons
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Thank you for joining us for this free virtual event.
We are excited to have you come and visit with the Elders and Traditional Knowledge Keepers. If you would like to help us continue to deliver amazing offers like this event and would like to leave a monetary gift – we would be grateful.