Councillor McCann Meeting Report (April 4, 2017)
A Special Gift Presented to The Town of Parry Sound
SECOND ANNUAL GCHI DEWIN INDIGENOUS STORYTELLERS FESTIVAL
If you recall on Friday Morning, January 13th, along with Councillor Jim Marshall, I attend the Second Annual Gchi Dewin Indigenous Storytellers Festival which included wampum making. The Wampum as shown above was presented to the Town of Parry Sound through Councillors Jim Marshall and myself.
The accompanying letter to the Town of Parry Sound
Dear Town of Parry Sound;
Wasauksing Communications Group (ReZ'91) and co-presenter MUSKRAT Magazine are pleased to say that our 2017 Gchi Dewin Indigenous Storytellers Festival held on January 13th was truly a success.
This year's festival focused on reconciliation. Fifteen organizations received a special invitation to the Wampum Weaving Stories: We Are All Treaty People workshop held during the morning of the festival.
We are very pleased that Councillors Jim Marshall and Doug McCann were able to attend, participate and represent Parry Sound at this workshop. During the workshop representatives worked on making a small replica of a wampum belt while they listened to stories about treaties and the meaning of the wampum belts. A task a bit more difficult to do than we had anticipated.
On behalf Ken Maracle, Facilitator and Maker of this particular belt, Maurice Switzer, Facilitator, Rez'91 and MUSKRAT Magazine it is with great pleasure that we give you this replica of the Ojibway Friendship Belt.
We hope that you will find a place to hang it where it will remind us of our friendship and that "We Are All Treaty People".
Miigwetch!
Anita Chechock
Plaque Inscription
Iroquois - Ojibway Friendship Belt
This belt is a friendship belt, and the symbols on the belt represent two nations joined together by the Path of Peace. One square represents the Ojibway Nation and the other square represents the Iroquois. There will always be an open path between them.
As a footnote, may I add that I had the honour of starting this wampum but as Anita stated in her letter above, it was indeed a task I have not mastered and only completed some dozen rows! Thank you Mr. Maracle for completing this.
Belvedere Heights Monthly Board Meeting
On March 22nd, at 9:00 AM I attended the Belvedere Heights monthly board meeting. There were housekeeping items including the tunnel decommissioning which is moving ahead. We will be receiving our annual financial audit in the next few weeks to come.
Originally we had four life lease units available for sale. One has sold, and today I learned that a second unit has been sold, but that sale is a conditional sale at this point.
We are still waiting on word from the province for its selection of a provincial appointment to join our board.
Again, I want to say that despite our financial struggles, and who does not have them, the board and CEO are very encouraged and excited about moving forward with new ideas and positive, progressive attitudes.
I am pleased to announce that following on the heals of the success of the Victory School project, I am involved with a smaller but hopefully significant initiative that will raise some funds on behalf of Belvedere. Watch for details coming soon within the next couple of weeks.
West Parry Sound Refugee Program
Finally, the West Parry Sound Refugee Program Committee has responded to a significant need and will endeavour to raise a bit more money. We voted on a new mandate last Saturday morning, April 1st, at an emergency meeting. We can tell you more about this initiative in the near future.