Visit the Ahlan Bazaar, June 9th and 10th from 2-6PM at the Chatham Islamic Centre, 310 McNaughton AveWest, Chatham.

Get ready for Eid al-Adha or support the community and vendors. Jewelry, food (all halal), clothing, henna, and eyebrow threading.

Free entry. Cash only for payments.

Please contact Maha Muhareb with any questions 519-359-4024 or mamuhareb@hotmail.com

This weekend is the 29th annual Walpole Island Spring Pow Wow. The event is open to everyone. See image below for more details.

Tips for the Bkejwanong Pow Wow:

Listen to the Master of Ceremonies – they’ll explain what’s happening to help visitors.

Ask permission before taking pictures.

Outdoor settings are sometimes uneven so watch your footing.

Sometimes bleachers are available for people, but it never hurts to bring a chair with you.

Seats closest to the dancing circle are reserved for singers, dancers, and drummers.

Respect that some sections set aside for those with mobility issues to sit with mobile chairs or walkers.

Leave pets at home as animals are not necessarily at cultural gatherings and ceremonial functions.

Don’t touch people’s regalia without permission. They are not costumes, and hold special meaning to dancers.

Feathers are sacred – if one falls, do not pick it up. Leave it where it is.

Sometimes specials can include placing a blanket on the ground for generous donations by visitors.

Want to get in on the dancing? Intertribal dances are for all people present to partake in the dance.

Support the vendors. Some vendors may have interact or etransfer options, but please make sure you have cash on hand as well.

Security is provided for parking lot areas.

Ambulance and police are present.

Don’t bring alcohol or drugs.

Have fun!

Every year on May 17^th, the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia is honoured. The day was created in 2004 to draw attention to the violence and discrimination experienced by Two Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Intersex, and Asexual people, and all people with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities, and sex characteristics. May 17^th was chosen to commemorate the World Health Organization’s decision to declassify homosexuality as a mental disorder, on May 17^th 1990.

In recognition of the diversity across 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, this year’s theme is ‘Together always: United in diversity.”

Resources:

Learn

Learn more about May 17th, about homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia and the impacts they have at the May 17^th website or from Fondation Émergence.

Learn about terminology, inclusive language, and how to be supportive of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities from:

CK Pride’s website – scroll down for quick tips

Spectrum’s website

Diversity Ed website

Pride at Work website

5 Ways you can support 2SLGBTQIA+ people in the workplace on the Municipality’s Economic Development Youtube channel.

Upcoming Webinar: June 7th, 1PM Celebrating and Elevating 2SLGBTQIA+ Communities for allies, 2SLGBTQIA+ members, and everyone. Offered by Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion.

Supports

CK Gay Pride Association: https://www.ckpride.com/ (local social and educational events)

Trans Wellness Ontario: https://www.transwellness.ca/ (low barrier access to a variety of services for members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, their friends, and families)

PFLAG Canada: https://pflagcanada.ca/ (support for 2SLGBTQIA+ families and loved ones)

Maawnjidimi Urban Indigenous Network are looking for volunteers to participate on a Reconcili-ACTION Committee to plan and coordinate activities and events for CK in 2023.

The first meeting is on Wednesday, May 10th from 7-8PM via Zoom.

ZOOM MEETING LINK https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82352231544?pwd=OVpveXhwb25lWWRkQldJdFJrbzNnUT09

Meeting ID: 823 5223 1544

Passcode: 795509

Metings wiill be held in-person and via Zoom every Wednesday afterwards.

Everyone is welcome to participate.

Join local Urban Indigenous communities and Service Providers in honour of National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit People (Red Dress Day). See flyer for details.

Friday, May 5th, 7-8PM. Deshkan Ziibi Indigenous Hub, 496 King Street, from 7-8. Event will be outside.

There will be prayer, smudging, hand drumming, and guest speakers.

You will see red dresses hung to represent the women and girls who have are missing or have been murdered.

Please feel free to share with others, this event is open to everyone.

About The National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Kin:

Also called Red Dress Day, the day honours and brings awareness to the disproportionate violence that Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two Spirit people face in Canada. Bkejwanong Territory have chosen to use the work Kin to be inclusive.

The red dress was inspired by Métis artist Jaime Black’s REDress Project, in which she hung empty, red dresses to represent the missing and murdered women.

The National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Women found that, in Canada:

• Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two Spirit people are 12x more likely to go missing or be murdered than all other women, and 16x more likely than Caucasian women.
• In the last 30 years, more than 4000 Indigenous Women, Girls and Two Spirit people have gone missing or been murdered. That’s about 133 a year or 3 a week.
• Because of persistent forms of oppression (racism, colonialism, homophobia, transphobia, sexism), complaints about missing Indigenous Women, Girls, and Women, are less likely to be taken seriously or followed up.

The National Inquiry led to 231 Calls for Justice directed at governments, institutions, social service providers, industries, and all Canadians.

To learn more:

Read the final report and Calls for Justice from the MMIWG National Inquiry on the National Inquiry website

Visit the National Family and Survivors Circle website

Visit the Amnesty International No More Stolen Sisters website

Find book, video and podcast recommendations on Simon Fraser University’s website.

Supports:

This day may be triggering for some people. Help is available.

National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls toll-free support phone line (24/7) 1-844-413-6649

Hope for Wellness Help Line (24/7) 1-855-242-3310

On May 20-21, Bkejwanong Territory is hosting it's Annual Spring Pow-Wow, M'nookmig Jiingtamook (Ojibwe). The event is open to everyone and free for the general public to attend.

Tips for people attending are below the poster.

About:

Pow-Wow gatherings are a spiritual and social gathering where people come together to dance, sing, heal, meet old friends, and make new ones. It’s a time to celebrate and reconnect with each other and Mother Earth.

Tips:

Listen to the Master of Ceremonies – they’ll explain protocol to help visitors.

Ask permission before taking pictures.

Do not touch people’s regalia without permission. They are not costumes, and hold special meaning to dancers.

Feathers are sacred – if one falls, do not pick it up. Leave it where it is.

Seats closest to the dancing circle are reserved for singers, dancers, and drummers.

Bring a chair with you.

Do not bring alcohol or drugs.

Outdoor settings are sometimes uneven so watch your footing.

Leave pets at home as animals are not necessarily at cultural gatherings and ceremonial functions.

Sometimes bleachers are available for people to watch the gathering.

Respect that some sections set aside for those with mobility issues to sit with mobile chairs or walkers.

Sometimes specials can include placing a blanket on the ground for generous donations by visitors.

Intertribal dances are for all people present to partake in the dance.

Some vendors may have interact or etransfer options, but please make sure you have cash on hand as well.

Security is provided for parking lot areas.

Ambulance and police are present.

Enjoy all the vendors and have fun

Two of our Municipal groups are recruiting volunteer members with the intention of including people from various communities, with varying perspectives, and experiences. Please share with folks who may be interested. These Committees are a great way to network, understand some of the work that the Municipality does, and contribute to the community.

The Chatham-Kent Food Policy Council

Accepting applications until April 28th. Learn about the Council at the Chatham-Kent Food Policy website.

Together CK Grants Committee

Applications open until May 5th. Learn about the Committee and apply on Let's Talk CK.

The Muslim Students of Chatham-Kent present a celebration in honour of Eid Ul-Fitr. April 29, 2023, 3:30-6:30PM at Kingston Park. Open for all. Join the group for burgers, refreshments, fun, and games. Speaker is Imam Bakhtiyar.

Contact Imam Bakhtiyar 647-893-9322 or Br. Ishraq 519-350-3136 to volunteer or to help sponsor.

Please wear red, come out and support Bkejwanong Territory (Walpole Island First Nation) and honour National Day for Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two Spirit people.

Please feel free to share with others, this event is open to everyone.

About The National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Kin:

Also called Red Dress Day, the day honours and brings awareness to the disproportionate violence that Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two Spirit people face in Canada. Bkejwanong Territory have chosen to use the work Kin to be inclusive.

The red dress was inspired by Métis artist Jaime Black’s REDress Project, in which she hung empty, red dresses to represent the missing and murdered women.

The National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Women found that, in Canada:

• Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two Spirit people are 12x more likely to go missing or be murdered than all other women, and 16x more likely than Caucasian women.
• In the last 30 years, more than 4000 Indigenous Women, Girls and Two Spirit people have gone missing or been murdered. That’s about 133 a year or 3 a week.
• Because of persistent forms of oppression (racism, colonialism, homophobia, transphobia, sexism), complaints about missing Indigenous Women, Girls, and Women, are less likely to be taken seriously or followed up.

The National Inquiry led to 231 Calls for Justice directed at governments, institutions, social service providers, industries, and all Canadians.

To learn more:

Read the final report and Calls for Justice from the MMIWG National Inquiry on the National Inquiry website

Visit the National Family and Survivors Circle website

Visit the Amnesty International No More Stolen Sisters website

Find book, video and podcast recommendations on Simon Fraser University’s website.

Supports:

This day may be triggering for some people. Help is available.

National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls toll-free support phone line (24/7) 1-844-413-6649

Hope for Wellness Help Line (24/7) 1-855-242-3310