Anishinaabe immersion

By Andrea Crawford

SUDBURY — The Ojibway Cultural Foundation’s yearly spring conference is the perfect place to come if you  want to understand what it’s like to think, feel and be Anishinaabe.

Hundreds attended the fourth annual Anishinaabewin Niiwin gathering March 8-9 to immerse themselves in everything from craft lessons and talking circles to research presentations and inspirational speeches.

“We say someone is Anishinaabewin when they have a true Anishinaabe character and nature,” said conference chair Alan Ojiig Corbiere.

More than 25 presenters included an impressive line-up of Elders, academics, artists and youth.

Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Elder Gordon Waindubence led a talking circle on day one of the conference which blended sweetly with the quillwork lessons of Ted and Mina Toulouse, but also contrasted purposefully with academic  presentations from Pam Williamson and Darrel Manitowabi.

In between concurrent sessions, participants also took in youth poster displays and the handcrafted artworks of local vendors.

Opening-day keynote speaker and longtime First Nations activist Russell Diabo gave an overview of federal legislation that threatens both inherent and treaty rights, while Wab Kinew motivated participants to overcome these challenges by continuing to demonstrate Anishinaabe nationhood.

“The best way we can provide a meaningful future for our children is by exercising our own self-sovereignty,” said Kinew.

Host of the CBC mini-series “The 8th Fire” and a father of two boys, Kinew said everyone has a unique way of exerting Indigenous nationhood, but that common ties such as the language and the land will always bring Anishinaabe people together.

This story originally posted April 16, 2013.