Please join us on Saturday, April 9th starting at 11AM as Veterans Affairs Canada commemorates 105 years since the battle of Vimy Ridge
Màmawi Together and Algonquin Elder Albert Dumont will be participating in the Vimy Ridge Commemoration to be held at the National War Memorial in downtown Ottawa on Saturday April 9th, starting at 11AM.
Many Canadians were horrified by the acts of desecration by the members of the Truckers' occupation to both the Aboriginal Veterans Monument and the National War Memorial. Elder Albert Dumont has been invited to open the Veterans Affairs Canada's ceremony with a prayer and smudging of the Memorial to restore the site's sacredness.
Following the ceremony, guests are invited to gather at the National Arts Centre's upper level lobby.
Note that NAC COVID protocols apply.
Please RSVP by April 5th, 2022.
Space is limited to 150 guests.
Register below.
A confirmation email will be sent if you are one of the first 150 guests.
Thank you to everyone who made our 2021 virtual events possible! Thank you to the NIB Trust for generously supporting us through their Fund.
2021 Youth Forum
Educators ONLY! Register for the Forum here
2021 Youth Changemakers Speaker Series
Register for the Series Here
Màmawi Together events have been moved to a virtual setting to continue engaging our community and fostering collaboration on Reconciliation in Ottawa and Canada.
This year's theme for the Màmawi Together Speaker Series is focused on celebrating, supporting and connecting with Youth Changemakers.
March 11, 7pm. Concluding Panel with 3 of our Youth Changemakers
March 9, 7pm. Algonquin Elder Barbara Dumont Hill will provide an Opening
Anika Ines Bousquet is a third-year student at Queen's University pursuing a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics. Throughout high school and her first year at university, Anika worked with Elder Barbara Dumont Hill in facilitating Kairos Blanket Exercises with a variety of groups and organizations - something she will carry close to her throughout her journey. She is incredibly grateful for the teachers she has had and continues to learn from each and every day and firmly believes that meaningful change can only come from fostering deeper connections with the land and those around us.
Special presentation by Stephanie Fung
March 2, 7pm. Métis Elder Vera DeMontigny will provide an Opening
Alana Robert is a lawyer at McCarthy Tétrault in Toronto. In addition to her legal practice, she advises organizations on their strategies to address gender-based violence in Canada. Alana founded Justice For Women Manitoba and has testified to a House of Commons Standing Committee. She has won the Governor General's Award in Commemoration of the Persons Case and the Indspire Métis Youth Award for her work in this area.
Special Presentation by: Winnipeg fiddle players Michael Audette & Melissa St. Goddard; the Norman Chief Youth Memorial Dancers from Winnipeg
February 23, 7pm. Elder/Knowledge Keeper Elaine Kicknosway will open the session.
Theland Kicknosway is Wolf Clan, Potawatami & Cree Nation and a member of Walpole Island, Bkejwanong Territory in Southern Ontario. He is a singer, a grass & hoop dancer, and helps in ceremonies in many places. He is in Virtual High School in the Ottawa Region and enjoys offering his gifts of song, dance & voice for all. He has been a Blanket Exercise Facilitator since 2012 and was one of the youngest Indigenous trained within the region.
He has offered his voice and songs for the Indian Residential School Survivors in 2008 and at the closing of the TRC in 2015.
This past spring in 2020, he completed his 6th annual run in partnership with Families of Sisters in Spirit, and raising awareness to the children left behind of MMIWG2S.
He is planning his upcoming 7th Annual MMIWG2S to run/bike from Vancouver to Ottawa this upcoming spring/summer 2021.
He is the youngest Indspire Laureate under Culture, Heritage and Spirituality (2018)
https://indspire.ca/laureate/theland-kicknosway/
February 16, 7pm. Inuit Elder Meeka Kakudluk will open the session.
Katherine Takpannie is an urban Inuk whose family is originally from Apex Hill, Nunavut. Katherine was born in Montreal, QC. Takpannie is a self-taught, emerging photographer who wants to reveal the complexities and nuances of urban Inuit life. Having lived most of her life in Ottawa, her work speaks to the Ottawa that she sees. Her visual language expands out from lifestyle portraiture to include lush landscapes, and gritty urban scenes.
She also captures performative and political gestures, hoping to bring reflection on issues that Canadians face daily. Katherine is a proud alumni of the Nunavut Sivuniksavut program. The program focuses on the Nunavut Agreement and it's implementation, Political Science, Research, Inuit-Government Relations, Contemporary Issues, Inuit history, and Inuktitut. Katherine aims to help raise awareness and bring forth important conversations through her work.
Samantha Kigutaq-Metcalfe and Cailyn DeGrandpre, together, are Tarniriik, meaning Two Souls. Tarniriik, formerly known as Ministers of Cuteness or #giggles, are the young Inuit Throat Singers that performed for the swearing in ceremony of Justin Trudeau in 2015 and more recently the Swearing in Ceremony of the New Cabinet in 2019. Since 2015, Tarniriik have performed at dozens and dozens of events, both locally and across North America, events promoting Inuit Culture or awareness of the Inuit Culture or as a part of numerous reconciliation events. Tarniriik chooses to perform to raise awareness about Inuit culture. Cailyn’s family is from Baker Lake, NU and has roots with French Canadian on her father’s side. Samantha’s family is from Nain, Nunatsiavut and Arctic Bay, NU. Both Samantha and Cailyn are born and raised in Ottawa and refer to themselves as Urban Inuit.
The Series will begin February 9th at 7:00 pm EST with a special opening by Algonquin Elder Albert Dumont.
Kyrstin Dumont is a 20 year old Algonquin anishinabe woman who resides in Algonquin territory. Kyrstin has spoken with organizations, school boards, churches and with government officials to help create a better understanding of indigenous issues. She is an activist, advocate and has been awarded twice for her work within the indigenous community. She is currently finishing her high school diploma at urban aboriginal alt to remind kids who fall through the cracks of mainstream westernized education systems, that we can flourish and thrive within our own.
Alexis Odjick is an Algonquin Anishinàbe Ikwe from the community of Kitigan Zibi. Her ancestral land is in the unsurrendered and unceded area of Northern Quebec all the way through the Saint Lawrence River and the Great Lakes. She is a full time law student at Carleton University, a beading enthusiast and an Indigenous Rights Advocate. She strongly believes in utilizing traditional and western knowledge as a tool to help communities push past the Indian Act and reclaim their positions as the primary caretakers of the land. She is a proud Algonquin Anishinàbe woman who hopes to be a part of healing and igniting the eighth Fire for the future generations to come.
Generously sponsored by a National Indian Brotherhood Trust Fund grant as well as a grant from the United Church of Canada Justice and Reconciliation Fund and in-kind support from the Métis National Council.
New this year - Contest
Watch all the videos in our series for your chance to win one of our prizes. Hidden in the videos throughout the series are hidden codes for you to enter on our platform. Enter the codes and your name and it will place you on our leaderboard. Prizes will be given to those who make it further on the leaderboard. For full contest rules associated with our prizes please see below for further details on how to qualify for a prize.
CONTEST RULES
1. HOW TO ENTER:
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY BUT YOU MUST REGISTER ON THE SITE TO BE ENTERED - REGISTER HERE
The starting date, February 9th, 2021 and closing date, March 11th, 2021 and time for a contest (the “Contest Period”) and the details regarding how to enter as follows:Be active on our social media:
Facebook, Twitter & Instagram
Find a code in our videos and enter it on our gamification section on our platform
Like, share and follow our social media
2. ELIGIBILITY: Directors, board members, and contractors of Màmawi Together, and members of their immediate families, and those with whom they reside, are not eligible to participate. "Immediate family" means mother, father, sister, brother, son, daughter, married or common-law spouses, regardless of where they reside.
3. WINNER SELECTION: Winner(s) will be selected based on the data received from the leaderboard found on the gamification section of our platform. That calculates your engagement and stores your codes each time you enter them.
The contest closing date, March 11th, 2021 at 9:00 pm marks the closing time of the contest.
Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received.
4. PRIZES: Prizes will be shipped via standard post at no cost to confirmed winner(s) at the mailing address provided by the winner(s) within sixty (60) days of being confirmed as a winner, or other suitable arrangements will be made with the winner. Prize(s) must be accepted as awarded, is not transferable and cannot be exchanged for cash.
Thank you! Our 2019 Events were a huge success!
April 25 - Speaker Series Evening ARTS CELEBRATION at the University of Ottawa
Susan Aglukark sang/presented on the "Critical Role of the Arts in Reconciliation" with arts performances and National Challenge highlights. Also featured: Manitoba fiddler Oliver Boulette; Eagle Dancer JP Longboat; Hip Hop artist Justin Holness; Youth fiddler Quentin Lundie; Métis Prairie Fire Cultural Dancers, and throat singers Samantha Kigutak Metcalfe and Jasmine Doig.
Pictures from the Evening:
February 22 - Youth for Reconciliation Day at the University of Ottawa
250 students from all four Ottawa School Boards attended. Schools brought 4-5 students who were keen to engage in a legacy Reconciliation project in their schools or who belonged to a Leadership/Mentoring club or are a part of Student Council. It was open to Grades 7-12.
The Youth Day consisted of workshops and activities focused on advancing Indigenous awareness and education, the National Challenge and Reconciliation at the community level.
Pictures from the day as well as the Project of Heart final art piece created by all 250 students and educators:
We would like to thank our sponsors for 2019:
Platinum
TD
Métis National Council (MNC)
Gold
University of Ottawa, Faculty of Education
Equity Knowledge Network
University of Ottawa
Silver
Ottawa Carleton District School Board
Experiences Canada
First Air
Canadian North
Ottawa Catholic School Board
Christi Belcourt
Supporters
RBC
National Arts Centre (NAC)
Yummy Cookies
Rideau Park United Church
Chef Wolfman
Ella Fontaine Richardson
Patrick Cheechoo
Candice Metallic
Marylou Mintram
Beaded Dreams
Robin and Joan Bell
Lalande Managed Forest
Chris Lalande
Indigenous Walks
Equity Knowledge Network
Past Events and Activities
INDIGENOUS STORYTELLING & CULTURAL ACTIVITIES AT PLEASANT PARK SCHOOL
In 2009, parents and co-founders Margaret Embleton and Tim O’Loan began awareness-raising activities at their children’s school.
This led to the Màmawi Together Speaker Series...
THE MÀMAWI TOGETHER SPEAKERS SERIES
Stemming from the awareness raised by the activities at Pleasant Park School, the Annual Aboriginal Lecture Series was launched in 2012 at the request of parents at the school to involve them in more reconciliation efforts.
In 2015, the evening event became a multi-school, school Board, and volunteer initiative. It was renamed the Màmawi Together Speaker Series and featured a community education event with a lively question and answer period.
Past speakers have been:
2013: Trina Bolman, Legacy of Hope
Topic: "History of Residential Schools"
2014: Scott Serson Former Federal Government Deputy Minister of Aboriginal and Northern Affairs
Topic: "Myths, Misperceptions & Reconciliation"
2015: Commissioner Marie Wilson, Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada
Topic: "The Role We Can All Play in Reconciliation"
2016: The Honourable Senator Murray Sinclair
Topic: "The Critical Role of Education in Reconciliation"
2017: Minister Hon. Carolyn Bennett and Hon. Senator Murray Sinclair
Topic: “Responding to the 9 Student Challenges”
2018: Max FineDay Executive Director of the Canadian Roots Exchange
Topic: a 3-Part Event focused on responding to the youths’ Challenges presented last year.
Part 1: Màmawi Together National Challenge: To be launched nation-wide, to all schools.
Part 2: Panel Discussion on 'Engaging Truths in the Steps Towards Reconciliation’
Part 3: Youth for Reconciliation Community Day - Schools from all four Ottawa School Boards invited to attend.
Panel Discussion on 'Gender Equity and Diversity in Reconciliation'
Inaugural Legacy Project
The MÀMAWI TOGETHER art Mural
To honour the release of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s final report and Survivors of Residential Schools, a special collaborative art mural and education project took place in 2015. Algonquin Elder and Artist Albert Dumont collaboratively led all students of Pleasant Park School and some from Ridgemont High School in the creation of the mural at Pleasant Park School. When it was unveiled on June 10th, 2015, the broader community joined the act of reconciliation. This was made possible with the support of many parent, school and community volunteers, the City of Ottawa Paint-it-Up Mural Grant, and other community and business funders.
In 2017, the 5th Annual Màmawi Together Speakers Series was celebrated in two parts. Both focused on the critical role of youth in reconciliation and creating a new and more equitable Canada based on greater understanding, appreciation and action. At the evening event, students from the Youth for Reconciliation movement shared their personal commitments to reconciliation and presented the nine challenges that were an outcome from Youth for Reconciliation Day.
In attendance were Indigenous Affairs & Northern Development Minister Carolyn Bennett, Senator Murray Sinclair, Former Chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and Honorary Patron, and over 500 members of the public.
Youth For Reconciliation Day
In spring 2017, to mark Canada’s 150 Sesquicentennial year and in response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action, 150 Indigenous and non- Indigenous students from both the Ottawa English Public and Catholic School Boards came together to start a Màmawi Together Youth for Reconciliation movement.
Personal commitments shared included pledges to:
Continue to be personally more aware and educated
Help raise awareness and educate others
Help empower Indigenous people
Use social media platforms to inform everyone about the positive aspects of Indigenous cultures.
Many indigenous students also committed to learn more about their culture and their languages, share that knowledge, and help to mentor others.
While many of the challenges demand the leadership of the Federal, Provincial and Municipal Governments, the Màmawi Together Challenge is directed at the educational system. We at Màmawi Together believe that schools, youth and the public have the power to make this happen.
