SCHEDULE
Saturday, September 27, 2025
7:00 AM
Sacred Fire
SUNRISE CEREMONY
Ceremony begins at 7am. Please arrive prior to 7am if you wish to participate in the ceremony. Ribbon skirts are optional. Breakfast will be served following the Ceremony.
9:00 AM
Arbour
WELCOME
Curve Lake First Nation Chief Laurie Hockaday and Mnoominkewin Gathering Director Janet McCue will welcome participants to the Gathering. Elder Dorothy Taylor will share an opening Mnoomin Song
9:30 AM
Arbour
LEANNE BETASAMOSAKE SIMPSON
Keynote Address by Leanne Betasamosake Simpson, Anishnaabekwe intellectual, musician, writer, and academic from Alderville First Nation.
10:30 AM
Throughout the Park
SARAH LEWIS
Spoken word performance by Sarah Lewis, an accomplished Ojibwe and Cree poet, activist, and author from Curve Lake First Nation who is inspired by Mnoomin and Nibi.
10:45 AM
Throughout the Park
PLANTING, GATHERING, ROASTING, & DANCING MNOOMIN
Experientially learn how to plant, gather, and process Mnoomin into food. See explanation at the end of the Schedule below for more details.
KIDS ACTIVITIES
All the "Mno-Bnos"out there are invited to check out the Kids Area for special activities to make the day extra fun for our young ones.
ANISHNAABEMOWIN LANGUAGE LESSON
Join Curve Lake First Nation Language Teacher Jon Taylor in a Mnoomin-themed Anishnaabemowin language lesson. All levels of learners are welcome.
ART DEMOS
Visit beaders, fur and leather workers, carvers, basket makers, quill workers, soap makers, and other practitioners as they demonstrate how to create their Mnoomin-themed works of art.
PONTOON BOAT RIDE
Not comfortable in a canoe? This tour of the Mnoomin beds by pontoon boat is designed with Elders and people with accessibility needs in mind. Tours will leave from the dock near the boat launch next to the Accessible Parking Area.
12 NOON
Food Tent
LUNCH
A Mnoomin-inspired lunch catered by Chef Shawn Adler featuring delicious, nutritious, traditional Anishnaabeg foods. Bring your own feast bundle if you are able to do so.
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WINONA LADUKE
1:00 PM
Arbour
Keynote Address from Anishnaabekwe Activist, Intellectual, and Food Sovereigntist Winona Laduke.
2:30 PM
Throughout the Park
PLANTING, GATHERING, ROASTING & DANCING MNOOMIN
Continued from the morning, a second opportunity to interact hands-on with Mnoomin.
KIDS ACTIVITIES
All the "Mno-Bnos"out there are invited to check out the Kids Area for special activities to make the day extra fun for our young ones.
ART DEMOS
Visit beaders, fur and leather workers, carvers, basket makers, quill workers, soap makers, and other practitioners as they demonstrate how to create their Mnoomin-themed works of art.
OPEN HAND DRUM CIRCLE
Bring your hand drums! All participants invited to join the circle to sing to the Mnoomin.
PONTOON BOAT RIDE
Not comfortable in a canoe? This tour of the Mnoomin beds by pontoon boat is designed with Elders and people with accessibility needs in mind. Tours will leave from the dock near the boat launch next to the Accessible Parking Area.
4:00 PM
Arbour
CHANDRA MARACLE & RICK HILL
Keynote Address by Haudenosaunee Scholars and Activists Chandra Maracle and Rick Hill.
ROUND DANCE
5:00 PM
Arbour
SUPPER
5:30 PM
Food Tent
All are invited to join in a community Round Dance. No experience required!
A Mnoomin-theme supper will be served by Chef Shawn Adler featuring delicious, nutritious, traditional Foods.
7:30 PM
Arbour
FEATHER FALL
FILM SCREENING
Sponsored by ReFrame Film Festival, this 22min film reconnects with the women and warriors of Elsipogtog, New Brunswick, who stood on the frontlines of a historic anti-fracking standoff.
8:00 PM
Arbour
RHYTHMS OF THE RICE:
TIA WOOD LIVE
Stay after the Mnoominkewin Gathering to continue the celebration of Mnoomin and Indigenous Food Sovereignty at the inaugural Rhythms of the Rice, featuring Tia Wood Live!
PLANTING, GATHERING, AND PROCESSING MNOOMIN
Come learn how to plant, gather, and process Mnoomin into food!
Canoes will be available for free, complete with lifejackets, paddles, and safety kits to plant and gather Mnoomin. Canoes will launch from the beach at the park. Green seeds for planting and gathering sticks for gathering will be provided. Instruction regarding planting and gathering will occur on shore prior to going out in the canoes. Planting will occur in a designated area. No planting will be done in front of the swimming area at the beach.
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Two adults are recommended in each canoe; 1-2 children can also go in each canoe. All people in the canoe must wear lifejackets at all times. The number of people wanting to go out in canoes will determine how long each participant may stay out in a canoe. There will be three safety canoes and one motorized safety boat with a lifeguard. Please listen to the instructions of the safety boat monitors.
You are invited to participate in roasting and dancing Mnoomin seeds, facilitated by experienced Mnoominke practitioners. Cured seeds and all equipment will be available to learn with. If you have your own seeds that you've gathered you are welcome to bring them to the Gathering and we can roast them together. You are encouraged to actively participate in the processing of the Mnoomin and to ask questions so you learn how to process Mnoomin at home.