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IKEP Activities
Nations

Culture Week

Kateri Rodgers

September 19, 2024

Duration:

  • 5-7 days of land-based activities and workshops

Target age group:

  • All ages; children to elderly community members of LPFN

Objectives:

  • Reinforce and revitalize use of the social and environmental cultural knowledge and practices of the Anishinabeg nation
  • Promote and revitalize use of Anishnabemowin
  • Facilitate and confirm use of traditional knowledge systems relating to social and spiritual worldviews
  • Instill pride as an individual and as part of the collective of the Algonquin-Anishinabeg nation
  • Transmission and sharing of traditional knowledge between Algonquin communities and other Indigenous nations
  • Demonstration of sovereignty

Description:

A community-wide effort through multiple departments and sponsors from both outside and within LPFN, the annual culture week occurs during the first week of October of each year. Evolving over the years, the week features a variety of land-based activities and workshops for all age levels and abilities. Individuals from both neighbouring and distant Indigenous communities are also invited to share their knowledge and skills. Activities, workshops, and facilitators are chosen based on community recommendations and suggestions. In past years, activities and workshops have included the following:

  • gathering and identifying traditional medicines and foods
  • hunting and fishing trips
  • basket-making (pine needle, birch bark)
  • moccasin-making
  • ceremony (sweat lodge, etc.)

Throughout the week, meals are prepared by volunteers and LPFN employees and shared by attendees. Depending on the success of hunting and fishing groups, wild game and fish may be prepared and served during the course of the week.

Benefits:

  • Community-building; confirmation and development of traditional knowledge relating to social, political, and spiritual contexts
  • Continuation and promotion of traditional land use
  • Purposeful establishment of safe and ethical space for Indigenous knowledge systems; provides space for community engagement
  • Emphasizes collaboration of community departments

Challenges the realities of the community and nation’s health and social wellbeing