With the coming of summer, the local Indigenous community is again welcoming everyone to join them for a change of seasons ceremony at Awen Gathering Circle.
The summer solstice change of seasons ceremony will take place Sunday, June 18 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. with two knowledge keepers to share teachings, a drum group, Inuit games, Indigenous vendors, and two hosts to guide those gathered through the event.
"What we'd like to do ... is honour Indigenous Day and the summer solstice at the same time, so we've increased the amount of celebration during that time," said Muckpaloo Ipeelie, founder of the Collingwood Indigenous Circle and part of the change of seasons ceremonies organizing team since they began in March 2022.
"This year, we're going to be focusing on the strawberry, that's what our theme is," said Ipeelie.
Heather McIntyre and Jennifer McFarlane will be the MCs for the gathering, both are members of the Collingwood Indigenous Circle.
James and Lori Kewaquom, knowledge keepers from Saugeen First Nations will be sharing teachings with the group.
At the end of the ceremony, the drum group Ashunyung, from Georgina Island, will perform and lead the group in music.
Opichi Commanda, who is Anishinaabe from Marten Clan, will be firekeeper for the ceremony.
Also included in the day's events will be Inuit games led by Qiluya Ipeelie-Adams, and an Indigenous vendor market. There will be several raffles and prizes for people who attend. Entries can be earned by wearing a piece of clothing or jewelry that is Indigenous made.
Since starting in March, 2021, the Collingwood Indigenous Circle has organized change of seasons ceremonies at Awen Gathering Circle four times a year, with attendance growing and people coming from neighbouring communities to join.
"It's really remarkable how much of the community supports the change of seasons gatherings," she said. "The word is getting around that we're celebrating in this way and supporting Indigenous people in this way. And, hopefully, we see more people from Indigenous communities coming, because we really want to celebrate us as a people and show how proud we are."
Additionally, the gatherings help show that Indigenous people do live and exist in the community, and have their own way of life, said Ipeelie.
Everyone is welcome to attend the change of seasons ceremony to participate. There is a custom of reciprocity in First Nations cultures that shows gratitude for knowledge shared. By bringing medicines in the form of tobacco ties, cedar leaves, dried sage, or sweetgrass braids, those attending the change of seasons ceremony can show respect for the investment made in them as learners. Because those medicines do not grow in the Inuit tundra and are not part of Inuit way of life, other gifts could include tea or coffee.
You can learn more about the tradition of reciprocity and the change of seasons event and vendor market at collingwoodindigenouscircle.ca.
