Full day of events scheduled at Wiikwemkoong
WIIKWEMKOONG—June 21, National Indigenous Peoples Day, will be celebrated in Wiikwemkoong with Anishinaabe Giizhigad at Nimkii Bineshiinh Kaaning (Thunderbird Park).
The day will be filled with events from 10:30 am to fireworks after dark.
Things will kick off with opening remarks before a recital of Dewagan—Story of the Drum.
Champion hoop dancer Lisa Odjig will bring dance styles to the stage before the grand entry at noon for a powwow social.
Science North’s travelling Science Road Show will be on hand with The Great Ontario Northern Road Show.
Josh Manitowabi will hold a workshop on Manitoulin Island Treaties at 1:25 pm, offering the opportunity to learn more about the foundational documents by which the Anishinaabe shared their lands with Canada.
At 2 pm there will be an interactive hoop dancing demonstration, followed by a land-based presentation that will explore grounding learning in knowledge about the land and environment around us.
Chef Joseph Shawana will bring ‘Prepared from the Land,’ a taste of Odawa Mnis in conjunction with Wiikwemkoong Tourism, before a reprise of the Great Northern Road Show with Science North.
At 4:15 pm a ribbon skirt fashion show will take place before the closing remarks from Science North and the tourism staff—but things don’t stop there. At 5 pm a community feast will be held before a community canoe launch and ceremony, followed by live entertainment from the incomparable Elijah and the Backburners, Johnny Cash Tribute and a host of local entertainers.
Crystal Shawanda will be livestreamed on APTN before the evening is made complete as the sky lights up with fireworks.
Planning for the annual satellite community traditional powwow is apparently underway as well, but details are not yet available. Please see the ad on Page 17 for full details.
