8:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.: Sacred Fire Lighting in Noojimo’iwewin Gitigaan National Healing Forest Project, with Lead Firekeeper: Johnny Moore, GTA Every Child Matters

 

9:00 to 9:30 a.m.: Registration in the Narthex + Hospitality in the Community Hall

 

9:30 to 10:00 a.m.: Ceremonial Opening in the Sanctuary: Elder-in-Residence Pedahbun Migizi Kwe (Dr. Catherine Brooks), Nibisiing Anishinaabe: Four Directions Smudge & Teachings

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10:00 to 11:30 a.m.: Anishinaabe Kwe Water Protectors Circles: Elder Mary Lou Smoke, Obaajiwan Anishinaabe Kwe, in the rear of the Sanctuary; Grandmother Kim Wheatley, Shawanaga Anishinaabe Kwe in the Bracondale Courtyard (or 2nd Floor Dance Studio, in the event of rain); and Author & Illustrator of The Water Walker / Nibi Emosaawdang and other books for children, Joanne Robertson, Atikameksheng Anishnawbe Kwe, in the Parlour

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11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.: Tobacco offerings and Noojimo’iwewin Gitigaan walkabouts; hospitality and donor opportunities to Indigenous organizations (otherwise known as rent-paying) in the Community Hall; book, music, and merchandise sales with Another Story Bookshop in the Narthex; exploration of Biinaagami: Our shared responsibility to the Great Lakes Giant Floor Map in the Parlour with  Kanyen'kehà:ka geographer, Katie Doreen; activist displays & Art Build in the Oakwood Room

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1:00 to 2:00 p.m.: We Are All Water Protectors: Opening of tiny cultural centre Community Art Project in the St. Matt’s east side Parking Lot + Bracondale Courtyard: Congratulations and more from Elder-in-Residence Catherine Brooks; Toronto Poet Laureate Lillian Allen; Dr. Mariko Uda, author of Where does it all come from? Where does it all go? Toronto’s Water, Energy, and Waste Systems; tiny cultural centre artist-facilitators h kryworuchko and Aysia Tse; and others tba

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2:00 to 3:00 p.m.: Tobacco offerings and Noojimo’iwewin Gitigaan walkabouts; hospitality and rent paying opportunities to Indigenous organizations in the Community Hall; book signing with Joanne Robertson plus book, music, and merchandise sales with Another Story Bookshop in the Narthex; all-ages reading and book signing with Dr. Mariko Uda and exploration of the Biinaagami: Our shared responsibility to the Great Lakes Giant Floor Map in the Parlour; activist displays & Art Build in the Oakwood Room

 

3:00 to 4:30 p.m.: Keynote Speakers in the Sanctuary: Giidaakunadaad (Nancy Rowe), Michizaagiig, Ojibwe, Anishinaabe Kwe and Dr. Bonnie McElhinny (University of Toronto) organizers of Nibi Aawin Maadziwin/Water Is Life Gatherings with Ziibii (the Credit River). Their work is deeply rooted in this place, and the possibilities for Indigenous-Settler collaboration in defense of Water.

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4:30 to 5:00 p.m.: Last chance to explore Biinaagami: Our shared responsibility to the Great Lakes Giant Floor Map in the Parlour and activist displays & Art Build in the Oakwood Room

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5:00 to 6:45 p.m. in the Community Hall: Feast, pwyc, catered by Reva-Marie Peters-Ackroyd (Salish of Skookumchuck First Nation) of Rrevalution Catering

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7:00 p.m.: Songs & Stories from the Breathing Lands in the Sanctuary: Lawrence & Natasha Martin, Vern Cheechoo, Mushkegowuk Cree

Natasha Martin is currently the elected Deputy Grand Chief of the Mushkegowuk Council. Her husband, Wapistan (Lawrence Martin) was the first-ever winner of a Juno for Best Music of Aboriginal Canada in 1994 and has continued to perform and record, often with Vern Cheechoo, even as his political career grew. He has been Mayor of both Sioux Lookout and Cochrane as well as Grand Chief of the Mushkegowuk Council. He is now Director of Lands and Resources; Vern is the Chief Executive Officer.

Natasha, Lawrence, and Vern will extend the day’s conversations about our responsibilities as Water Protectors all the way to Hudson’s Bay.

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8:30 p.m.: Ceremonial Closing in the Sanctuary: Elder-in-Residence Dr. Catherine Brooks