​Reconciliation through shared commitment to the continuation of all life.
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Have you ever wondered how you might contribute in a meaningful way to the Truth and Reconciliation process with Indigenous people in your own community? On July 21st, you will have an opportunity to both participate in an unusual learning experience and make a concrete difference to the life of Indigenous Youth here in Lanark County. Mississippi Mills All My Relations is sponsoring an educational event in partnership with the Indigenous organization Plenty Canada to raise funds for Plenty Canada’s Cross Cultural Youth Program. 

Plenty Canada is a registered non-profit organization that facilitates access to and shares resources with Indigenous peoples and other community groups around the world in support of their environmental protection and sustainable development goals. It is dedicated to Indigenous cultural revitalization, and the building of cultural capacity within our communities and among our youth and committed to reconciliation through the cross cultural protection of nature. 

In addition to their environmental stewardship efforts, the organization hosts traditional skills workshops where Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth can experience and engage with Algonquin traditions like dreamcatcher-making, birch bark basket-making, canoe buiding, drumming, language, hide-tanning, and more. This summer the organization has launched a youth arts series titled “Mòkinàn”, which aims to bring artistic opportunities to Indigenous and non-Indigenous rural youth in Lanark County. The Mòkinàn series will host monthly events where youth can participate in theatre, visual arts, poetry, storytelling, and music, and will see Indigenous feature performers brought to venues throughout Lanark County. 

​On July 21st, attendees at this event will have an opportunity at Plenty Canada to meet Indigenous Youth benefitting from these activities and to experience the land through Indigenous eyes. The day’s events will open and close with traditional Algonquin ceremony, led by elder Larry McDermott. Indigenous wisdom keepers and non-Indigenous science experts will collaborate on knowledge sharing circles, touching on subjects like forestry, wild rice, invasive species, and Algonquin cultural teachings. A traditional Algonquin lunch will be served for attendees, during which there is opportunity for community members to observe the Mòkinàn Arts Exhibit, which will feature painting from Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth artists aged 12-19 from Lanark County. Attendees are also invited to partake in a 3-hour workshop hosted by Algonquin master birch bark canoe builder, Chuck Commanda, in which participants will learn these techniques hands-on, and create their own miniature birch bark canoe to take home. 
Our Wisdom Keepers: 

Larry McDermott 
Algonquin elder Larry McDermott is an ambassador of Shabot Obaadjiwan First Nation, Executive Director of Plenty Canada, and lead elder at the Silver Lake Pow-Wow this year. He will be conducting opening and closing ceremony at the event, and leading a knowledge-sharing circle on Algonquin cultural teachings, including the four sacred medicines. 

​Chris Craig 
Algonquin wisdom keeper, Chris Craig, is a member of Algonquins of Pikwakanagan, and a senior forestry technician with South Nation Conservation. He will be guiding us on our walk through the William Commanda trail, and sharing knowledge on the healing powers and cultural significance of plants and trees that we discover. 

Chuck Commanda 
Master Algonquin birch bark canoe builder, Chuck Commanda, will be sharing knowledge on the historical significance of the birch bark canoe, and the natural materials harvested from the forest that are used in the process. Attendees of his workshop will be working with birch bark and spruce root to create their own miniature models of the birch bark canoe, and will be taking these home with them after the event.