By: Dylan Kensick Taylor Galvin and I travelled to Pinaymootang First Nation for Lake Winnipeg Indigenous Collective’s Winter Gathering on January 20-21/2020. It was a great gathering with lots of people from different communities across Manitoba. There was food (excellent desserts!), juice, coffee, and tea provided throughout the whole event. Both days had activities for the people to par
By Taylor Galvin On the morning of May 23rd I woke up excited, ready to pack up and head to the Nibi Gathering at Bannock Point, Whiteshell Provincial Park. Since I had never been before, I knew that I was going to learn so much about the lands and water as well as hearing stories and teachings shared by Elders and scholars. We were not disappointed. The gathering began with everyone walking
By Michael Tyas In April, Wa Ni Ska Tan had a rare and incredible opportunity to share some personal stories on a world stage at the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in New York City. Our delegation was: Shirley Ducharme, Chief of O-Pipon-Na-Piwin Cree Nation Leslie Dysart, a fisherman of O-Pipon-Na-Piwin Cree Nation Betty Lou Halcrow, Women’s Chief from Cross La
I’m Kianna Durston, a summer co-op student researcher for Wa Ni Ska Tan. During my first week with the team, I had the chance to travel to Kenora for the Treaty 3 Nibi (water) Declaration National Forum with two other research students. During this trip, we were able to attend and learn from those leading the water declaration, which was developed in collaboration with the Treaty 3 Women’s Cou
By Jack Lovell I had the opportunity during the 2016 Annual Spring Gathering in Brokenhead Ojibway Nation to engage with Chief Gordon Bighetty Jr. of the Pickerel Narrows First Nation, a traditional Cree community currently based in Leaf Rapids, Manitoba. Like many Indigenous communities in Northern Manitoba, their story shares a common but tragic theme of a people under pressure to survive as
The importance of language, Anishinaabe law, and the water came together at this year’s Anishinaabe Nibi (Water) gathering. The theme for the gathering was Nibi Nagamonan - Water Songs. Each day began with a water ceremony and teachings at the teaching lodge, then proceeding to afternoon workshops in various formats. There was a lot to do and even more to learn! The teaching lodge was host to
From May 15th-May 17th, community members, researchers and NGO's met in Thompson for the annual Spring Gathering. This year we gathered as a group for large discussions at the Friendship Centre, where key priorities were discussed and stories were shared amongst one another. We also had presentations from Lake Winnipeg Indigenous Collective, and Sylvia McAdam, co founder of the Idle no More moveme
If we could sum up the 2017 Spring Gathering in a phrase it would be, "Less talk, more action!" Breakout sessions during the Gathering identified priorities around five major themes: health, youth, fisheries, legal action, and activism and outreach. Each group identified action items to improve environment and community health, increase youth engagement, support the recovery and management of fis
From June 7th to the 10th, 2017 community members, researchers, and NGOs met in Norway House Cree Nation for our annual Spring Gathering. Over the course of four days over eighty people from 15 Metis and First Nations communities came together to discuss and address the impacts of hydropower. Youth and elders were well represented and it was a privilege to hear everyone's stories and work together