Gathering & Healing Ceremony + Indigenous Artisan Market

Saturday Activities:

• Opening welcome & Smudge Ceremony
• Native Healing Ceremony with Phillip Cote
• Ojibwe, Cree, Dakota and Mohawk Nations Traditional Dancing and Drumming
• Lisa Odjig, First Female World Champion Hoop Dance
• Story of Turtle Island at the Children's Table
• Native Art Exhibition
• First Nations, Metis and Inuit Artisan Market
• Traditional Hand Poke Tattoo Artist
• Sacred Fire and Offering
• Native Food and Sacred Teas
• Children's Craft Table

Sunday Activities:

• Sunday October 2 from 10:00am - 2:00pm
• Opening welcome & Smudge Ceremony
• Native Healing Ceremony with Phillip Cote
• River Christie-White Hoops for Hope
• Ojibwe, Cree, Dakota and Mohawk Nations Traditional Dancing and Drumming
• Story of Turtle Island at the Children's Table
• Native Art Exhibition
• First Nations, Metis and Inuit Artisan Market
• Traditional Hand Poke Tattoo Artist
• Sacred Fire and Offering
• Native Food and Sacred Teas
• Children's Craft Table

About Hoop Dancing:

Traditional Hoop Dancing is a method of storytelling. The dance use anywhere from 1 - 30 small, handmade hoops that are interlocked on their bodies; together forming the outlines of a number of different animals and symbols through the musical story that they share. Hoop Dancing was banned by the Government in the late 1800's and was brought back to life in the early 1900's by our Native Communities across Turtle Island. Today Hoop dancing is so popular that a World Champion Hoop Dancing Contest is held annually in Phoenix, Arizona.

About Lisa Odjig:

Lisa Odjig comes from Wiikwemkoong First Nation and is a 7 time Hoop Dance Champion and 2 time World Champion Hoop Dancer. Lisa has performed in many different countries across the globe, in the closing ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Utah, opening and closing ceremonies of the Pan Am and Para Pan Am Games in Toronto, at the Calgary Stampede. for the Toronto Raptors Halftime show, for music acts, in movement videos and was also invited by Environment Canada to perform for the United Nations Meeting of the Parties Global Climate Change summit in Montreal.

About River Christie-White:

River Christie-White is a First Nations Youth from Oneida Nation of the Thames. He is a Hoop Dancer, Fancy Dancer, Flute Player, Singer, Presenter and Motivational Speaker. River has spent the last eight years traveling the Pow Wow Trail to educate audiences on autism, bullying, suicide prevention and the importance of fostering inclusion. River is a strong youth and figure within community, always performing and speaking about his experiences in advocacy.