Share your Anishinaabe culture with Pukaskwa National Park
By Rick Garrick
Pukaskwa National Park is seeking First Nation members, artisans and Elders to share their Anishinabe culture this summer through the Anishinaabe Culture Presentation Series.
“Our visitors to Pukaskwa have been asking to meet local First Nation artisans, craftspeople, storytellers, knowledge holders,” says Joshua LeClair, Pukaskwa’s cultural interpretation officer/coordinator. “The aim of the program is to … connect visitors to Pukaskwa National Park with knowledge holders of Anishinabe culture and to hopefully participate in a workshop.”
LeClair says this is the second year for the program, noting that last year’s program featured beading and moccasin workshops.
“As of now, we have only had inquiries (about the program),” LeClair says. “We are hoping to get as much applications with great workshop ideas by Friday, March 4. We can’t consider a workshop or presentation idea unless we have it by March 4.”
The deadline for submitting applications is 4:30 p.m. on March 4. Applications and information about the program are available by e-mailing LeClair at: ont-pukaskwa@pc.gc.ca or calling 807-229-0801.
“We really want to showcase the talents and skills and stories that local First Nations people have,” LeClair says. “We are hoping to see workshops and presentations that are really interactive and hands-on that encourage cultural exchanges and learning experiences for visitors and the workshop hosts.”
LeClair says the program is open to anyone who identifies as First Nation, Inuit, Metis or non-status Indian in the province of Ontario, but preference may be given to applicants from the Robinson-Superior Treaty area. The workshops and presentations can range from an Elder hosting a storytelling session in their teepee to a two-day workshop on how to make moccasins.
“We’ve really left it open to see what people would like to share,” LeClair says. “We are hoping to have traditional and contemporary representation of Anishinabe culture.”
In addition to receiving monetary compensation for delivering their activity, the presenters will also have an opportunity to sell their traditional crafts, gifts and art in the Pukaskwa Park store. A non-electrical Hattie Cove campsite is available for presenters at no cost.
Park staff will work with the presenter to promote their activity through local media, the Internet, on-site promotion and Parks Canada’s social media channels. Park staff will also provide logistics, scheduling and behind-the-scenes details to help the presenter to deliver their activity.
“If a presenter needs supplies, we will purchase the supplies and materials, everything you need to deliver your workshop,” LeClair says. “I am the behind-the-scenes person and I will be the person who is supporting the workshop hosts this summer.”
Visitors to the park range from families with young children to families with teenage children to older couples.
“We have visitors that are very much interested in learning about First Nations culture,” LeClair says.
The workshop dates are scheduled for July 2-3, July 30-31, Aug. 6-7 and Aug. 20-21. Workshops can be held for three hours, six hours or two days. Workshops locations are the visitors centre, a newly-constructed 20-foot diameter fire circle with circular stone seating or a 22-foot diameter teepee in the Anishinabe camp area.