NEWS & INFORMATION
The position of Ontario’s political parties on Métis issues:
On May 15, the Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO) wrote the leaders of each of Ontario’s three principal political parties and provided each with 15 questions pertaining to Métis issues in order to provide MNO citizens with more information prior to the provincial election.
To date, the Liberal and New Democratic Parties have provided responses and we are waiting for responses from the Progressive Conservative Party. A document has been developed that shows the questions asked and provides the response from each party to date. If further responses or clarifications are provided prior to the election the chart will be updated accordingly. The MNO has also reached out to the Green Party and this document will be updated if a response from the Green Party is received.
Click here to view or download the full document.
On May 15, the Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO) wrote the leaders of each of Ontario’s three principal political parties and provided each with 15 questions pertaining to Métis issues in order to provide MNO citizens with more information prior to the provincial election.
To date, the Liberal and New Democratic Parties have provided responses and we are waiting for responses from the Progressive Conservative Party. A document has been developed that shows the questions asked and provides the response from each party to date. If further responses or clarifications are provided prior to the election the chart will be updated accordingly. The MNO has also reached out to the Green Party and this document will be updated if a response from the Green Party is received.
Click here to view or download the full document.
October 2017 – Riverwood Indigenous Day
CRMC Outreach and Education Coordinator was able to connect with approximately 200 members of the general community. Numerous opportunities to promote Indigenous Education in public and private schools were developed as a result of CRMC participation. Participation would not have been possible without support from OTF Seed Grant Funding.
October 2017 HCDSB – Regional Indigenous Leads gathering
Credit River Metis Council Education Coordinator was able to attend and participate as a result from the Ontario Seed Grant Funding. This event enabled CRMC to have an active voice in activities in education bot within and beyond its Council region. Relationship building and collaborations may form as a result, most notably with Viamonde, Halton and Halotn Catholic District school boards.
October 2017 Rama and Geneva Park Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies – A Moment on the Path.
Credit River Metis Council Outreach Coordinator travelled to and attended the OACAS’s apology to Sixty Scoop Survives. This participation would not have been possible without the support from the Ontario Trillium Foundations Seed Grant Funding.
Nature’s Truth September 2017
Students from Cawthra Park Secondary School and West Credit participated in a collaboration between the Credit River Metis Council, Riverwood Conservancy, Credit Valley Conservation and the PDSB’s G.W. Findlayson Field Centre. Students explored Indigenous perspectives on water throughout 3 non-consecutive days along the Credit River Watershed. The Credit River Metis Council’s participation was supported by the Ontario Trillium Foundations Seed Grant.
Ministry of Education – Indigenous Education Leads Provincial Gathering September 2017
Credit River Metis Council Outreach and Education Coordinator participated in conference activities, discussions and relationship building over two days near Toronto’s Pearson Airport. The two days included discussion around province wide initiatives and regional needs from a number of stakeholders. The Credit River Council was able to participate in this conference as a result of the Ontario Trillium Foundations Seed Grant funding.
FNMIEAO Elders Gathering and Indigenous Knowledge and Mathematics Community of Practice Conference August 2017
Credit River Metis Council Outreach and Education Coordinator assisted Senator Bill Morrison in travelling to Manitolin Island and participating in discussions regarding Elders Council of the FNMIEAO over a week of discussions, relationship building and program development.
The Baby Moccasin Project
Thank you to all who joined us for an evening of creating baby moccasins for Da-giiwewaat (so they can go home) a national campaign to raise awareness about child apprehension impacting Indigenous children in Canada.
Darlene Lent (CRMC Treasurer) hosted a fantastic event at 350 Rutherford Rd. South in Brampton. By recruiting over 20 people to attend the CRMC offices on August 9, 2017 Darlene led a strong contribution toward the Moccasin Project with the assistance of Karen Derocher (CRMC President) and Nycolla Buisson.
The Moccasin Project states on their website:
Through education and citizen action our goal is to eradicate racism and bring children home to their families and communities
-sotheycangohome.com
For more information on the Moccasin project please see their website.
The event included a dinner, a presentation explaining The Moccasin Project, and a hands on moccasin sewing workshop. The presentation outlined the history of the Project, startling facts and statistics regarding indigenous child apprehension in Canada.
The workshop hosted by CRMC aims to have 100 pairs of baby moccasins made and donated to The Project. The evening was a great success as many people young and old learned to sew the moccasins Darlene prepared for the event.
Thank you to all who attended .
Caledon Fair Grounds Strawberry Festival
On Saturday July 1, 2017 the Credit River Metis Council joined forces with the Caledon Agricultural Society in the 26th version of the Caledon Strawberry Festival. The festival is held each year on the Caledon Fairgrounds, in the Village of Caledon. This year the Council had an opportunity to present and discuss Metis culture and governance with more than 500 participants.
The Council area was on prime real-estate situated between the Caledon Agricultural Society Building and the Vintage Classic Car exhibit. These two neighbours were fabulous drawing partners to get the participants close to the CRMC display and trailer presentations. Participants identified themselves as local residents as well as from long distances away such as Hamilton, Niagara, Ottawa and Saugeen.
Most of the discussions dealt with the differences between First Nation and Metis and how they govern themselves. Other questions focussed on the history of the Metis in the Credit River area and those who are here at the present time. The day was presented as an opportunity to display the pride of the Metis community, as we flew both the red as well as the blue Metis flags. The crafts and artifacts were popular conversation pieces as was the MNO time line banner in the trailer.
Numerous brochures and pamphlets about the Credit River Metis Council describing the various activities, workshops and events were distributed. In addition, information on the MNO Education, Training and Employment branch were provided along with contact and programme materials from the Health and Wellness section.
Once again everything was well received and the enthusiasm was infectious for all who took part. Thank you goes out to Wayne Copeland, Darlene Lent, Kyl Morrison and Bill Morrison for all their contributions. Everyone is looking forward to the next opportunity to get into the neighbourhood.
On Saturday July 1, 2017 the Credit River Metis Council joined forces with the Caledon Agricultural Society in the 26th version of the Caledon Strawberry Festival. The festival is held each year on the Caledon Fairgrounds, in the Village of Caledon. This year the Council had an opportunity to present and discuss Metis culture and governance with more than 500 participants.
The Council area was on prime real-estate situated between the Caledon Agricultural Society Building and the Vintage Classic Car exhibit. These two neighbours were fabulous drawing partners to get the participants close to the CRMC display and trailer presentations. Participants identified themselves as local residents as well as from long distances away such as Hamilton, Niagara, Ottawa and Saugeen.
Most of the discussions dealt with the differences between First Nation and Metis and how they govern themselves. Other questions focussed on the history of the Metis in the Credit River area and those who are here at the present time. The day was presented as an opportunity to display the pride of the Metis community, as we flew both the red as well as the blue Metis flags. The crafts and artifacts were popular conversation pieces as was the MNO time line banner in the trailer.
Numerous brochures and pamphlets about the Credit River Metis Council describing the various activities, workshops and events were distributed. In addition, information on the MNO Education, Training and Employment branch were provided along with contact and programme materials from the Health and Wellness section.
Once again everything was well received and the enthusiasm was infectious for all who took part. Thank you goes out to Wayne Copeland, Darlene Lent, Kyl Morrison and Bill Morrison for all their contributions. Everyone is looking forward to the next opportunity to get into the neighbourhood.
Credit River Metis Council Garden Awakening and Planting
Submitted by Kyl Morrison (CRMC Outreach)
Wednesday May 17th, 2017. A nesting killdeer reminded us to go gently as we prepared the ground at our annual gardening awakening. The CRMC celebrated its sixth annual gardening awakening ceremony at the Creditview Community Garden. At the garden the CRMC awakening ceremony enjoyed participation from across generations and generous volunteerism from a range of community members. Despite chasing away a cold Darlene Lent strongly led the ceremonial smudging and tobacco offering while Nycolla read a prayer, all participants acknowledged their commitment to contribute to the gardening efforts.
Awakening the six garden plots through smudging ceremony, prayer and a sacred tobacco offering the CRMC and its valued collaborators anticipate a bountiful harvest this growing season. Last year Darlene and volunteers were able to donate almost five hundred pounds of fresh produce to the Knights Table. The Knights Table is a charity that works to alleviate hunger in Peel region. Find out more about the Knights table at knightstable.org
The morning was unseasonably warm but a relieving breeze passed over the nearby sports fields as elementary girls participated in a touch football tournament. The cheers and excitement of their crowds lent energy and the excitement of growth and strength to the awakening ceremony and volunteer work efforts.
Weeding, and the addition of compost and peat moss were successfully completed by the crew of volunteers. Contributing this year were Sarah and Calvin of Ecosource, Catherine from MNO, Beth from MNO, and her husband Brian, Nycolla, Kyl, Jon, Jim, and one self seeded parsley plant.
On June 1st a volunteer effort saw the number of volunteers grow to include members of LHIN, Dieufirt and Damiola, Sarah from Ecosource returned bringing a new volunteer - Jessica, and a donation of heirloom tomato plants. Beth returned and was able to bring her son a brilliant youth, Brycen. Brycen shared his passion and knowledge of animals as he talked about his tracking accomplishments and received some advice from traditional knowledge keeper Jim Tolles.
June 1st was all about planting. This crew of volunteers helped Darlene’s vision and plan come to fruition. With rows and rows of onions, beans, tomatoes, cabbage, kale, romaine lettuce, Swiss chard and herbs the garden became a real reminder of the potential power of community contribution. The six plots were organized differently this year with the inclusion of a three sisters garden. A variety of significant seeds were planted in the traditional three sisters configuration. Darlene was able to receive donated seeds from Stefania Ruffolo. The beans, squash and corn seeds included: an open pollinated corn variety that has thrived through thousands of years of farming by indigenous groups throughout North America; Cherokee Trail of tears beans; Rattlesnake runner beans; and Canadian Crookneck squash. The three sisters garden is new this year and reminds us of the incredible power of our traditional knowledge and the opportunities we have to continue to treat the earth in the spirit of a giving community. Miigwetch.
If you are interested in learning more, volunteering or participating in anyway please contact crmcoutreach@gmail.com. The CRMC is currently developing a number of events visit calendar and home page to find out more.. Miigwetch