The Newsletter of Heritage Mississauga Fall 2010 Maanjidowin 2010 - A Lifetime of Memories Vol. 23/Issue 3 By Princess Alexander Inside... Thousands showed up to see Aboriginal Culture and History come alive at Maanjidowin. The drums called and the people gathered. President’s Message ~2 From sunrise on Saturday, July 17th to sunset on Sunday, July 18th The Editor’s Desk ~3 diverse cultures from the Mississauga Community, Southern Lost Villages ~4 Ontario and as far away as Northern Quebec converged at J.C. Heritage Issues ~5 Saddington Park in Port Credit, overlooking the Credit River. Mississauga’s Name ~6 Consistent with the theme of the Event “Friendships that Transcend The Darker Side ~ 7 Time”, the community joined with our First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Oral History Project ~8 friends for a unique and amazing experience of culture and history. Dixie Cold Storage ~9 Girls of St. Hilda’s ~10 The volunteers, program and ambience were exceptional. Enthusiastic volunteers from as young as twelve years old worked Historical Societies ~11 Barbara O’Neil, Chief Bryan Dixie Public School ~12 for three days and filled over 200 spots to ensure a successful event. LaForme, MP Navdeep Bains and Resource Centre ~13 They handed out surveys, greeted guests, and assisted with enter- MPP Charles Sousa in Grand Entry In Memoriam ~14 tainment, the marketplace and educational village. Based on exit at Maanjidowin, John Bruce The Kennedy’s ~14 surveys 100% of the visitors said they would come again. The Heritage News ~16 following expresses the sentiment of those in attendance: “thank you so much for the opportunity to be there and all that I learned even in dealing with the storms, it was an adventure and I would do it again.” SPECIAL The entertainment circle which included drummers, fiddlers, EVENTS dancers, jiggers, throat singers, heritage re-enactors and Red Slam Doors Open was the catalyst to stimulate visitors' curiosity into a culture that is Sat. Sept. 18th not well understood. The tremendous value and long-term benefit 10am-4pm that everyone commented on were the teachings and educational The Grange experience. Sharing in the experience were community leaders including Mayor Hazel McCallion, MPP Charles Sousa, MP Mayor McCallion joins in Grand Literacy Festival Entry ceremonies with dancers in Navdeep Bains, Councillor Sanderson, Councillor Palleschi and regalia at Maanjidowin, John Bruce Sun. Sept. 19th Barbara O'Neil, President of Heritage Mississauga, who were flag 11am-3pm carriers in the Grand Entry led by Mississauga of the New Credit Living Arts Centre First Nation Chief Bryan Laforme. Haunted Maanjidowin was supported by an Ontario Trillium Foundation Grant and was Mississauga presented by Heritage Mississauga and its partners, the Mississaugas of the New Fri. Oct. 22nd Credit First Nation, the Credit River Métis Council and the Peel Aboriginal Steering tours start 7pm Committee. The event was sponsored by: the City of Mississauga, Mississaugas of Port Credit the New Credit First Nation, Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board, Peel 50th Anniversary District School Board, Region of Peel, Port Credit Community Foundation, City of Open House Brampton and Johnston Research Inc. Other Community sponsors included Long Sun. Nov. 14th and McQuade, Loblaw Superstore, SIMMCO Audiovisual Solutions, John Bruce 10am-5pm Photography, Museums of Mississauga, and the Mississauga Food Bank. The Grange Heritage Mississauga has had a history of accomplishments working with the Carolling at the Grange Aboriginal Community . These include the celebration of Maanjidowin 2005, Sun. Dec. 5th publishing “In the Footsteps of the Mississaugas”, promoting the Mississauga of A young dancer in 3pm-5pm New Credit First Nations Three Fires Pow Wow, providing internships to UTM Grand Entry, John (Bring a non-perishable students to research Aboriginal history in Mississauga and is in the process of Bruce food item for the building a commemorative garden at the Mission Site on Mississauga Road. Deacon’s cupboard) Heritage Mississauga’s work to educate and raise awareness of Aboriginal History and Culture is ongoing. Miigwetch! Christian, a Métis Voyager who can President’s Message survive off the land on his frequent By Barbara O’Neil, President travels, described some of the techniques he employs. Bear fat in Maanjidowin Memories your hair wards off mosquitoes and On a mostly sunny weekend in July, Heritage Mississauga black flies. And natural human oils partnered with the Mississaugas Of The New Credit First Nation, are a bug repellant: washing with the Credit River Métis Council, and the Peel Aboriginal Steering soap or applying cologne makes Voyageur Christian Pilon, Committee to host Maanjidowin - Native Pow Wow and Métis you a magnet for insects in the John Bruce Rendezvous, a two day celebration of friendships that transcend bush. time. The Inuit throat singers who performed were uniquely fascinating With the help of over 100 volunteers, staff and 18 sponsors, we and talented. At times they sounded like an orchestrated bullfrog successfully staged the largest event in our 50 year history. A chorus. clicker-count estimated 10,000 people came and stayed, enjoying My stand-out moments reflect only a portion of the Marketplace, an entertainment-packed schedule that began with a beautifully Teaching Circles, Demonstrations, Artists, Children's Centre, spiritual Sunrise Ceremony and ended with Closing Ceremonies Fiddlers, Jiggers and Traditional Pow Wow activities staged. But, that included a parade of flag bearers, veterans and community in speaking with visitors, the best thing about Maanjidowin was leaders. that people didn't just watch they were invited to participate to In between, attendees were able to actively participate in all events join processions, dance, sing, make crafts, etc. Being part of the and build their own personal memories of Maanjidowin. Here entertainment, now that makes memories. are some of mine, as well as some of the comments I received in Upcoming Events conversation with members of the public on both days: September 18: Doors Open (Heritage Showcase), at the Grange Friday's set up was a huge effort, with summer students, staff and September 19: Literacy Festival, Living Arts Centre volunteers getting physical hauling firewood (spiders!), sandbags, October 22: Haunted Mississauga, Old Port Credit Heritage signs and supplies. Under the able direction of Les Gaspar, Conservation District. teams were rallied to quickly erect canopies at day's end. November 14: Open House, at the Grange (Book Launch) December 5: Carolling at the Grange The Sunrise Ceremony was well attended, given the early 6am start; a number of people arrived at J. C. Board of Directors 2009-2010 Saddington Park ultra-early Barbara O’Neil, President Greg Carraro, Vice President specifically to take part in the event. Scott Mair, Treasurer, Meriel Simpson, Secretary As the sun slowly rose over Lake Ontario, Fire Keepers began a fire Arthur Dias, Don Hancock, Douglas Hancock, Councillor and burned sacred sage, tobacco, Katie Mahoney, Josip Milcic, Jeff Stephens, sweet grass and cedar. Elder Garry Sunrise Ceremony, John Bruce Sault, in full regalia, danced and STAFF Jayme Gaspar - Executive Director, Jane Watt - chanted a prayer. All men and boys Administrative Assistant, Matthew Wilkinson - Historian in attendance were given a symbolic blueberry, while women and girls were given a strawberry. One-by-one, they received the HERITAGE NEWS is a publication of the Mississauga Heritage Foundation Elder’s blessing. Amidst the hustle of today's modern urban Inc. The Foundation (est. 1960) is a not-for-profit organization which identifies, existence, a truly peaceful and researches, interprets, promotes, and encourages awareness of the diverse meditative way to begin the day. heritage resources relating to the city of Mississauga. The Foundation acknowledges, with thanks, the financial assistance of the City of Mississauga, The gun salute and re-enactment of the Ontario Trillium Foundation, the Department of Canadian Heritage - The Heritage Canada Foundation, Community Foundation of Mississauga, Canada the Métis arrival by canoe to trade Summer Jobs, the Ministry of Culture, Dufferin Peel Catholic District School with the Mississaugas was a Board, Peel School Board and Career Essentials which, together with its highlight. (How sweaty can it get in members, donors, sponsors, and volunteers, help to preserve Mississauga's a wool replica uniform buttoned up heritage in its many aspects. Articles, contributions, comments, advertisements, and letters to the Editor are welcome. Please contact us at: to the neck or a buckskin jacket in Historical Reenactors get ready Mississauga Heritage Foundation, 1921 Dundas St. W., Mississauga, Ontario high humidity? Happy to report, for battle, John Bruce L5K 1R2, phone: (905) 828-8411 or fax: (905) 828-8176, or E Mail: the re-enactors showed no signs of [email protected]. You can also visit us on our Web page: wilting.) www.heritagemississauga.com NEXT DEADLINE: October 8, 2010 Editor: Jayme Gaspar, Executive Director It was my honour to carry the City of Mississauga flag in the Grand Content: Matthew Wilkinson Entry procession, joining Chief Bryan LaForme, Mayor Hazel Layout & Typesetting: Jayme Gaspar Contributors: Princess Alexander, Richard Collins, Jayme Gaspar, Andrea McCallion, Councillors from the Region of Peel and a host of other Kennedy, Barbara O’Neil, Louise Peacock, Joan Reid, Lois Smith, Jane Watt,