New to the Kendaasawin Project is a week-long Indigenous Language Training Program. The program will feature a language teacher who will share and teach the Algonquin language to Indigenous participants on Kateri land. To ensure inclusivity, all on-site events will have an online counterpart, enabling remote participation for those unable to attend in person.
The Mohawk Community of Akwesasne is dealing with the deep impact of Residential Schools, which have led to an erosion of the Mohawk language and culture, particularly among Akwesasronon children and youth. One clear void is the lack of opportunity to pass on Mohawk traditions like social and ceremonial singing to future generations.
Notre Dame High School, a school within the Ottawa Catholic School Board, is dedicated to blending tradition, culture and learning with Christian living. Embracing a mission that encourages spiritual growth and societal transformation, the school incorporates teachings on reconciliation and decolonization through a Catholic lens into its curriculum. To support this mission, Notre Dame High School will be hosting a group of Dene students from Deh Gáh Secondary School in Fort Providence, NWT.
Wasauksing Kinomaugewgamik School, a First Nation school for students from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 8, is eager to strengthen ties with other schools in Parry Sound. With a commitment to fostering cultural understanding, the school plans to host a series of events, ceremonies and activities involving Parry Sound schools and the Wasauksing Kinomaugewgamik School First Nations community.
Rug hooking, a traditional art form among the Métis, has long been a means of providing for families. In an effort to preserve the craft, the Moon River Métis Council is hosting a two-day workshop, inviting participants to learn rug hooking.
Ribbon skirts have a rich history among Indigenous people, initially crafted from hides and adorned with plant-based pigments. Over time, the introduction of European trade goods like cotton and ribbons transformed the materials while preserving the meanings and teachings of these garments.
Métis citizen and skilled beader Shannon Beagan is hosting workshops to raise awareness and honour MMIWG through art. The workshops focus on teaching participants how to bead Red Dress Pins, the symbol of MMIWG. In addition to sharing the craft of applique beading, the session will create a meaningful space for sharing cultural insights, traditions and knowledge.
In a tribute to Métis veterans, Shannon Beagan, a Métis citizen and skilled beader, has designed a special poppy pattern for Indigenous Veterans Day. Through workshops for adult and youth beaders, Shannon will teach this pattern, providing an opportunity to reflect on the significant contributions of Métis veterans to Canada and honor their stories and sacrifices.
The art of pine needle weaving is fading, with fewer individuals possessing this traditional skill. To revive and preserve this craft, the Moon River Métis Council in Ontario is organizing two basket weaving classes, led by Métis citizen and experienced teacher Tina Jameson.
Curve Lake First Nation in Ontario is taking steps to commemorate Every Child Matters, the message honouring Orange Shirt Day that pays tribute to children lost to the residential school system. The community would like to create a space that promotes knowledge sharing and awareness for its members and visitors to the Nation’s territory.
