by Michael Erskine
MANITOWANING—It might have been a dark and stormy winter’s night, but neither wind or snow could deter Debajehmujig Storytellers from celebrating its many volunteers with a gala appreciation evening, featuring a gourmet meal prepared by celebrated chef Paul Owl, the founder of Tree Teas Brewing, chocolate tastings by Tammy Maki, gifts of teas, books and limited edition James Jacko prints, all capped off with the comedy stylings of Deadleh Aunties (the inimitable Anishnaabe-kwe comediennes Stephanie Pangowish and Samantha Mandamin).
The evening began in a good way with a traditional smudge and a prayer by Donna Debassige before emcee Kerry Assiniwe got things rolling by introducing Debajehmujig Storytellers operations manager Lynda Fox Trudeau.
“This evening, we are celebrating the important work of the many volunteers, without whom we could not be successful in what we do here at Debajehmujig,” said Ms. Fox Trudeau, who encouraged the audience members to “look around at all the familiar faces, young and old, the faces of friends.”
Ms. Fox Trudeau noted that Debaj is in the midst of change but remains true to its core values and direction.
“Our mission is dedicated to sharing and educating about Anishinaabe language, culture, and heritage through original creative expression with Anishnaabe and non-Anishinaabe people,” she said. “This commitment takes many forms at Debajehmujig, including community outreach and education, the creation of new works, professional training, production, exhibition and other annual pillar events.
“It about connecting through ancestral knowledge, traditional stories and storytelling – traditional teachings, ceremony, and protocol builds bridges of understanding, acceptance, and connection across cultures and generations.
“At Debajehmujig, we create original work based on an Anishinaabe worldview, and build bridges between cultures, generations, and territories. We support the development of Anishinaabe artists in remote, rural areas as well as in cities.”
Chef Paul Owl gave a brief outline of his company Tree Teas Brewing, which utilizes Indigenous ingredients to create new and exciting flavours of teas that are being marketed across Turtle Island and beyond. The name of the company is a tongue-in-cheek reference to the many treaties that govern the relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.
Chef Owl prepared chacurteries boards featuring custom terrines and focaccia, and a gourmet meal featuring stuffed, rolled and smoked beef, havarti spinach stuffed chicken supreme, cranberry wild grains, mixed green salads and spiced butternut squash cake. As an added bonus, Mr. Owl provided a hot sauce that came with strong words of warning. Debaj board president Richard Lathwell declared the sauce amazing, but even that self-declared connoisseur of hot condiments was cautious in its application.
Chef Tammy Maki, described as “a proud Saulteaux Ojibwe kwe from White Bear First Nation in Saskatchewan and a certified red seal journeyman pastry chef and baker” was introduced. Chef Maki noted that she is a product of the 60s Scoop, being adopted into “a wonderful Finnish family in Ontario.” jokingly refered to herself as a “Finndian.” She explained that she ceates unique flavour profiles and products by utilizing Indigenous ingredients. Her Sudbury-based company, Raven Rising, represents her journey into her own lost background and celebrates what she has discovered along the way.
Chef Maki took the attendees through a taste-testing exercise that featured a box of four chocolates containing two types of chocolate. One, a blueberry based soft chocolate and the other, a counter-intuitive combination of red berry skunk currant.
Chocolate, she noted, is a near universal Indigenous ingredient that extends across many cultures. Most of her business is conducted online.
Following the meal and chocolate tasting experience, volunteers were called on stage and gifted with items that included limited edition prints by Indigenous artist James Jacko, author Isaac Murdoch and canned teas by Chef Owl.
Ms. Fox Trudeau noted that the volunteers represented two years of volunteerism and consisted of “environmental contributions, such as donations of seeds, plants and time to care for the gardens (Debaj being a land-based arts collective), social components such sharing knowledge about Anishinaabe language, culture, history, way of life as well as assisting with development and storytelling, economical, such as valued time, donations that provided value add to productions or festival through contributions of items you can touch, feel and see–both hidden and in plain sight. Governance, as relationships of community, funders, as well as amongst each other. As well as legal between and amongst the various jurisdictions.”
The volunteer gifts evoke the three base teachings of Debaj, noted Ms. Fox Trudeau, including the preservation of humanity, “which we have adopted as our logo,” the Diamond teaching “representing life and that the life of Debajehmujig is not without the contribution of volunteerism” and the teaching of time, “which we know the real times are day and night, seasons and the time between moon cycles—your contributions of an hour, an event, over years.
Two special awards presented in the evening were the Marjorie Trudeau award to denote volunteers who help behind the scenes, much as Ms. Trudeau continues to do as a long-serving board member and the Cassandra Odjig Award to a volunteer who can often be seen in front of house, “like Casey for many years and continues to usher and host at our productions.”
Gertie Manitowabi, a long serving volunteer at the board of directors is the 2022 recipient of the Marjorie Trudeau Award and Ethan Mejaki, also a long serving volunteer for productions, events, festivals and general activities, was the recipient of the Cassandra Odjig Award.
Among the 80-odd volunteers recognized at the event were Shelba Millette, Assiginack Mayor Brenda Reid, Assiginack CAO Alton Hobbs, Assiginack events coordinator Jackie White, Barbara, Wiikwemkoong chief and council members Byron Kagige, Cameron Courorielle, Casey Odjig, Marcia Trudeau-Bomberry, Shane Cooper, Lorraine Fox, Ralph Gonawabi, Francis Madamin, Ogimaa-kwe Rachel Manitowabi, Tim Ominika, Irvin Oshkabewisens, Lyle Peltier, Gilbert Pitawanakwat, Joseph Wabegijig, Gladys Wakegijig, Phyllis Williams, Christine Williston. Christiana Jones, Cree Chum, Darlene Manitowabi, Dawn, Rick Leedham, Debbie Grant, Delmer Fields, Doris Peltier, Duke Peltier, Ethan Mejaki, Gabby Fournier, Howie Mende, Jocelyn Bebamikwe, Jonathon M. Peltier, Leslie Fields, Marsha Coffey, Mary Anne Corbiere, Marilyn Kagige, Mike Erskine, Mike Grant, Ogii Qua, Richard Manitowabi, Mary Lou Manitowabi, Richard Kagige, Donna Debassige, Robert Pheasant, Stitch Manitowabi, Trinity Jacko, Waasnoode Recollet, Cheryl Peltier, Gertie Manitowabi, Jeannette Corbiere Lavall, Karen Shawanada, Marilyn Jacko, Marjorie Trudeau, Matthew Pheasant, Richard Lathwell, Ashley Manitowabi, Brian Fox, Bruce Naokwegijig, Charity Shigwadja, Daniel Recollet Mejaki, David Sunny Osawabine, Jason Manitowabi, Joahnna Berti, Lynda Trudeau, Michelle Roy, Samantha Brennan, Dustin Trudeau, Isha Eshkawkogan, Kristin Pitawanakwat, Quentin Kaboni and Tyler Pangowish.
“All are appreciated, said Ms. Fox-Trudeau, “and moving forward, we can plan to include guests of volunteers so others who love you as much as we do can note the special pride we have of you.”
The volunteers will be listed on a plaque displayed in a place of pride in the lobby of the Debajehmujig Storytellers Creation Centre.
Following the awards presentation, comediennes Stephanie Pangowish and Samantha Mandamin, the Deadleh Aunties, both of whom have recently returned to their home community of Wiikwemkoong, had the house rolling in the aisles with their Anishinaabe-kwe humorous observations on rez life and times.
