Later this week, the town is hosting a celebration and blessing ceremony to dedicate the Awen’ Gathering Circle.
The gathering circle is the structure that’s been under construction at Harbourview Park at the north end of Cedar Street.
The ceremony is set to take place on Friday, Sept. 7 and will include traditional and contemporary singers and dancers as well as words and teaching by Dr. Duke Redbird, an Indigenous teacher and historian from the region.
The ceremony begins at 3 p.m. with a welcome and acknowledgement of traditional lands by Mayor Sandra Cooper. The United Steelworkers Union will also make a presentation. They have donated volunteer time to the project and were instrumental in having the project fast-tracked so it would be done in time for their conference at Blue Mountain Resort.
James Carpenter will perform a blessing and the town’s director of parks, recreation and culture, Dean Collver, will thank those involved in the project and cast vision for the future uses and intentions of the gathering circle.
Dr. Duke Redbird will share the inspiration behind the design concept – he helped guide the team of architects to a design that reflected the Ojibwe Grandfather Teachings. After the ceremonial ribbon cutting there will be a performance by the Little Creek Singers and Quantum Tangle.
The event wraps up at 5 p.m.
For more on the gathering circle project, click here.
