10Th ANNUAL CONNECT EVENT
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2009 2019 10th ANNUAL CONNECT EVENT INTERGENERATIONAL WISDOM Iiyika’kimaat Through Connections CARRIAGE HOUSE INN MACLEOD TRAIL SOUTH, CALGARY, AB Welcome Oki, Tansi, and Hello, I would like to welcome you to the Over the course of the next two 10th annual Connect Event, hosted days, you will have the opportunity by United Way of Calgary and Area’s to interact and learn from a number Natoo’si Indigenous Healing and of inspiring speakers, including Well-being Initiative. Elders, cultural advisors, knowledge keepers, and academics. They As we gather together over the will share their knowledge and next few days, it is important to teachings through storytelling and recognize that this land, adjacent group activities that will provide to where the Bow River meets the you with a better understanding Elbow River, is called “Mohkinstsis” of the strengths and resiliency of in the traditional Blackfoot name. It Indigenous nations. The theme of is also called the city of Calgary. This this year’s event is “Intergenerational is traditional land of the Blackfoot Wisdom – Iiyika’kimaat (try hard) Confederacy, as well as Treaty 7 through connections.” Territory which includes Kainai, Siksika, Piikani, Tsuut’ina, and Stoney I would like to thank our sponsors, Nakoda nations. Many Métis and Alberta Health Services, the Inuit people have also made their Calgary Foundation, the Aboriginal homes here in Calgary. Friendship Centre of Calgary, Fluor, It is hard to believe that it has and the YMCA whose generosity already been 10 years since the made this event possible. To all the first Connect Event! What a great committee members who selflessly learning journey we have been on donated their time and energy to “Over the past ten years together towards well-being and this event—thank you. Without reconciliation. The past ten years your dedication the last ten years the Connect Event has of learning and knowledge sharing would not have been possible. guided Calgary’s learning amongst the urban Indigenous I look forward to watching how the community has helped inform Connect Event will continue to grow around urban Indigenous our direction, and the direction over the next 10 years! of the social sector. Through what populations and become a Sincerely, we have learned at past Connect venue for reconciliation. We Events, we have come to a place of look forward to the continued understanding, building stronger relationships with our Elders, and accomplishments ahead.” beginning to honor the importance – Bruce McFarlane, of ethical space. We are working Board Liaison to United Way’s more intentionally to honour both Karen Young Indigenous Advisory Committee the Indigenous and Western ways of President and CEO knowing, in parallel with each other. United Way of Calgary and Area 10th ANNUAL CONNECT EVENT | OCTOBER 17-18, 2019 2 Event Schedule THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17 7:00 AM Pipe Ceremony Elders Kelly and Daphne Good Eagle 8:00 AM REGISTRATION and BREAKFAST 9:00 AM Words to Creator, Smudge, and Land Acknowledgement Welcome and Housekeeping Emcees: Nicole Eshkakogan and Evans Yellow Old Woman Opening Remarks and Context Beth Gignac, COO of United Way of Calgary and Area Emcees: Nicole Eshkakogan and Evans Yellow Old Woman 9:45 AM KEYNOTE: “The United Way of Multicultural Wisdom: From Intergenerational Trauma to Intergenerational Resiliency” Dr. Marie Wilson 10:45 AM BREAK 11:0 0 AM KEYNOTE: “Being + Doing: Authentic Change Making for Progress” Bina M. Patel 12:00 PM Step Dance Russ Baker 12:30 PM LUNCH United Way Video on Intergenerational Trauma 1:30 PM BREAKOUT SESSIONS Justice LGBTQ2S+ Honouring our Women Languages Lana Garcelon and Suitaakii Black and Steve Kootenay-Jobin and Steven Crowchild and Amelia Crowshoe Amber Twoyoungmen Aiyana Leonard La Couvée Sandis Twoyoungmen 2:30 PM BREAK 2:45 PM BREAKOUT SESSIONS Justice LGBTQ2S+ Honouring our Women Languages Lana Garcelon and Suitaakii Black and Steve Kootenay-Jobin and Steven Crowchild and Amelia Crowshoe Amber Twoyoungmen Aiyana Leonard La Couvée Sandis Twoyoungmen FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18 8:00 AM BREAKFAST 9:00 AM Words to Creator and Smudge Summary of Previous Day / Context / Connect Story Emcees: Nicole Eshkakogan and Evans Yellow Old Woman; Joanne Pinnow Honoring Ceremony – United Way Song; Joanne Pinnow 9:40AM KEYNOTE: Elders and Youth Couch Conversation Elder Patrick Diagneault, Elder Edmee Comstock, Youth Ethan Twoyoungmen, Youth Bryanna R. Brown 10:30 AM BREAK 10:45 AM Youth Film – “Medicine for the People” presented by Johnny Caisse 11:15 AM Cultural First Aid and Sharing Circles Elder Reg and Rose Crowshoe 12:30 PM LUNCH and NETWORKING 10th ANNUAL CONNECT EVENT | OCTOBER 17-18, 2019 3 CULTURAL TECHNICIANS Elder Patrick Diagneault Elders Patrick Diagneault was born and raised in a small northern community of Ile a la Crosse, Saskatchewan. He is married with three beautiful children, and has two grandchildren. In the earlier part of his life, he was taken from his home life and introduced to residential school, and here he had to learn a different way of life. Patrick has worked in the health field for most of his life, and is ELDERS KELLY AND DAPHNE GOOD EAGLE always looking to help people move forward. Through the Elder Kelly Good Eagle teachings he received from Elder Daphne Good Eagle his grandfather and father, he Kelly Good Eagle Sr. grew up on the Daphne Good Eagle grew up on works with families and other Siksika and Blackfeet reservations. the Siksika reservation. She has people today. He has extensive Kelly attended school in East been married to her husband Kelly knowledge of his Cree cultural Rochester, New York, where he Good Eagle for 44 years. Daphne and spiritual teachings. graduated in 1973. In 1975, he moved and Kelly have three children, eight to Calgary. Kelly has been married to grandchildren, and two great- Patrick is a member of the Circle his wife, Daphne, for 44 years. They grandchildren. She considers of Aboriginal, International have three children, two girls, Michelle her loving family her greatest Association of Public Participation, and Joanne, and one son Mervin accomplishment, and helping and the Project Management (deceased), eight grandchildren, many people through her prayers Institute, and strongly supported on and two great grandchildren. Kelly is and knowledge of the traditional behalf of TransAlta, the Canadian proud of his family, who honour their way of life. Council for Aboriginal Business. cultural ways and teachings. Daphne is an active member For over 25 years Kelly has been a of the Sundance on the Siksika member of the Horn Society and reservation. She has been a Horn is now an Elder for the society on society member for over 20 years the Siksika Reserve. He has been for the Siksika tribe. She is an Elder employed with Alberta Health for Miskanawah and the Calgary Services since 2009, where he Elders Knowledge Keepers and currently holds the position of sits on the board of directors for Traditional Wellness Counsellor. Buffalo Nations Luxton Museum Kelly has been a Calgary Stampede in Banff. Daphne has been taking Teepee owner for nine years, and he part in the Calgary Stampede also sits on the Calgary Stampede for over 50 years. Today, she is a Indian Events Committee as a Vice- teepee owner, a role she inherited Chair. He is an Elder Advisor for the from her mother in 2010. Daphne Calgary Police Service, Knowledge enjoys travelling throughout Keepers, United Way, and Boys and Canada and United States to ELDER PATRICK DIAGNEAULT Girls Clubs of Calgary. Kelly is a Vice dance at powwows. Director on the Board of Directors at the Buffalo Nations Luxton Museum in Banff. 10th ANNUAL CONNECT EVENT | OCTOBER 17-18, 2019 4 CULTURAL TECHNICIANS Elder Reg Crowshoe Elders Dr. Reg Crowshoe (Awakasina) is a well-known Piikani Blackfoot Elder, spiritualist, ceremonialist, and teacher and Former Chief of his Piikani Nation. Dr. Crowshoe has researched the Piikani Blackfoot language and the Blackfoot society practice to develop solutions for cross-cultural understanding. He has pioneered and initiated cross-cultural programs for many organizations and institutions across Western ELDER EDMEE COMSTOCK Canada. Dr. Crowshoe is also the founder of the Old Man River Cultural Society, and he Elder Edmee Comstock wrote the book Akak’stiman, A Edmee Comstock is the youngest belonging. She generously shares her cultural teachings, Michif Blackfoot Framework for Decision- of 17 children from one of the most Making and Mediation Processes, important historical families of the language and history through various educational outreach published by University of Calgary Red River Settlement. Her great Press in 2002. grandfather was John Bruce (Jean- programs for youth and families. Baptiste Bruce), the first president of Wearing her Métis sash with great pride, she is now a well-respected the Métis Provisional Government at elder and a beloved representative the Red River Colony. Louis Riel was of the Bruce clan of the Red River his secretary. Colony. In 2012, Edmee was the Edmee considers herself blessed recipient of the Queen Elizabeth to be raised in a traditional Métis Diamond Jubilee Medal for her family with a strong work ethic and work in the community. sense of community, spirituality, and Elder Rose Crowshoe Rose Crowshoe is Piikani born and raised. She is a retired alumni student of the University of Lethbridge. She believes in her traditional teachings that ELDER REG CROWSHOE she acquired from her great grandmothers, grandmother, and mother. These teachings have helped to raise her children, grandchildren, and great grandchild. ELDER ROSE CROWSHOE 10th ANNUAL CONNECT EVENT | OCTOBER 17-18, 2019 5 Knowledge Keepers YOUTH HELPERS We would like to extend our gratitude to our youth helpers, identified as ‘Elders in the making,’ who will be helping us throughout the event.