UNDER THE NORTHERN SKY: Sixth Annual Every Child Matters Pow Wow In Kirkland Lake

The flag bearers for the grand entry and exit of the Sixth Annual Every Child Matters Pow Wow in Kirkland Lake were from L-R: Sue Alton, Mino M’shki-ki Health Team; Rox-Anne Gaignard, Centre de santé communautaire du Témiskaming; Lori Lalonde, Keepers of the Circle; Marie Claude Patry, EarlyON; Elder George Rose Paulmartin, Head Elder Dancer; Dawson Moore (in front), Every Child Matters flag; Councillor Real Boucher, Matachewan FN; Alexie Polson, Two-Spirit flag; Mayor Stacy Wight, Town of Kirkland Lake; Chief Wayne Wabie, Beaverhouse FN; Tyler Twarowski, Metis Nation of Ontario and Michel Dupuis, representing Veterans flag. (Photo by Xavier Kataquapit)

By Xavier Kataquapit The Sixth Annual Every Child Matters Pow Wow brought together traditional people, Elders, youth and community members of every background for a day of commemoration and acknowledgement. The gathering was held at Civic Park in Kirkland Lake to commemorate ‘National Day for Truth and Reconciliation’ and ‘Orange Shirt Day’, two observances that acknowledge the history of the Residential School era in Canada. In traditional Indigenous culture, a Pow Wow is primarily a spiritual gathering of ceremony, commemoration, reflection, and remembrance, and also a time for celebration and entertainment. The Every Child Matters Pow Wow was collaboratively organized by Keepers of the Circle, Mino M’Shki-ki Family Health Team and the First Nations of Beaverhouse, Matachewan and Timiskaming. “This is an event that acknowledges the history of our ancestors…

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