AUNDECK OMNI KANING— The picturesque powwow grounds at Aundeck Omni Kaning will be a hive of activity this Friday, June 12 and Saturday, June 13 when Kina Gbezhgomi Child and Family Services hosts a Cultural Day, celebrating its designation as a children’s aid society with the communities and families it serves.
Friday will begin with a sunrise ceremony led by Craig Abotossaway at 6 am, with a designation celebration at 10 am including a welcoming, teachings, open remarks and an honour song.
Throughout Friday and Saturday there will be three tents with simultaneous workshops as well as one tent geared to child and youth activities. The workshops range from teachings on the drum, cedar baths, two spirited identity, the tikinagan and eight-point stars to Native language conversation, storytelling, the raindance and so much more. Children’s activities will include a talk on water safety from the United Chiefs and Councils of Manitoulin Police, a sweat lodge ceremony, canoe rides, archery and yoga for beginners.
“We’re celebrating with the community members themselves so that they know who’s who,” explained Jim Fox, Kina’s cultural coordinator. “A lot of the staff will be there. This will help to bridge those gaps and help the community to see those people as people.”
Mr. Fox noted that everything has a cultural aspect to it to remind those in attendance “what a beautiful culture it is” and to give the youth a sense of identity and a sense of belonging.
“It’s open to everybody, not just First Nation people,” he encouraged. “If you see a workshop that’s interesting, come check it out.”
For more information contact Mr. Fox at jfox@kgcfs.org or by calling 705-859-1010 ext. 2028.
