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EABAMETOONGFIRSTNATIONCulturalTourismShowcaseJune16-18,2017ByKenCaplan,ExecutiveProducer

Whatbeganasaskills-traininginitiativeculminatedinadebuttourismeventforthishistoricOjibwaycommunity.

CoordinatedplanningandacommitmenttodeveloptheeconomiccapacityofEabametoongFirstNationcreatedaspringboardfortourismdevelopmentandthefirststepstowardsasustainableeconomy.

FridayJune16

ThevisitorsdepartedPearsonAirport,TorontoviaWestJetintwogroupsonFridayandSaturdaytoaccommodatepersonalschedules.ThefirstgroupincludedAstraRoseandMehdiAminfromMarkham,HenriAghaeifromLindsay,PatBallantynefromWaterloo,andKenCaplanfromToronto,theShowcaseExecutiveProducer.ThefirstlegoftheflighttoThunderBaytooktwohours.ThetravellerscheckedinattheNorthStarAirlinecounteratThunderBayAirportbeforebeingshuttledtothenearbyNorthStarterminal.Theconnectingcharter,aPilateusninepassengersingle-propaircraft,left

shortlyfortheone-hourjourneytoEabametoong.

Thevisitorsarrivedabout2:30pm.TheycheckedthroughthearrivalterminalandwentstraighttoEabametoongInnwheretheyweregreetedbyindigenousdrummerswhoperformedatraditionalOjibwaywelcome.

TheguestsreceiveduniqueidentificationlanyardsdesignedbyLucilleAtlookan,anEabametoongstudentlivinginThunderBayandtotebagscreatedunderthenewEFNproductlabelKASKii™.Inside,theInn’smanager,CharlotteBaxter,registeredguestsfortheirrooms.TheInn’smodestbutcozysurroundingsareapopularmeetingplaceforeveryoneinthecommunityandtheheartymeals,frombacon,eggsandhomefriestosucculentmooseribs,keepeveryonecomingback.

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Aftersettlinginandfresheningupthegroupdepartedforashorttouroftheschool,thenursingstationandthebandoffice.FollowingthetourtheyreturnedtotheInnforsupper.

TherewasadanceintheeveningattheCommunityCentrehowevereveryoneturnedinby10:00pmcommentinginthemorningabouttherich,freshairandgreatnight’ssleep.

SaturdayJune17

AtbreakfastKenCaplantalkedwithanITtechnicianworkingontheinstallationofsatellitedishesinEabametoong.Internetcapacityisaconstantproblemforthecommunityandanimpedimenttomanyaspectsofdailylife.AnewsatelliteisexpectedgointooperationinFebruary,2018thatwillhelptoeasetheproblem,itishoped.

WhenandifanallseasonsroadisbuilttoEabametoongabroadbandcablewilllikelyaccompanyitresultinginimproveddeliveryofeducationservices,healthcare,economicandtourismopportunitiesaswellaslocalgovernance.

Followingbreakfast,7:00-9:00am,thevisitorsdepartedtheInnanddrovetotheEabametoongDetoxCentrewheretheyviewedapresentationbyRickyOstamusandJudyBoycewhorunthefacility.

TheCentreoffersa21-dayprogramforpeoplewithopiate,alcoholordrugaddictions.TheprogramprovidesSuboxonetreatmentforcontrolofaddictionsandcounselingtoassistwithlong-termrecovery.

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Healthcirclespromoteopendiscussionsoftraumaswhilestressrelievingphysicalactivitiesencourageclientstoregaintheirconfidenceandgetbackontheirfeet.TheprogramalsoprovidescounsellingforResidentialSchoolSurvivors.PrimaryfundingfortheDetoxCentreisprovidedbytheOntarioGamingCorporation.

TherapiesTransformedforTourism

Canoeing,walksinthewoods,creativearts&craftsincludingbasketweaving,woodsculptingandnaturephotography,areeasilyadaptedfortourismexperienceswithanindigenoustheme.

Lunch

ThevisitorsreturnedtotheInnforlunch.TheInnwasbusywithcustomers,bandmembersandShowcase

organizers.PatBallantyneandformerChiefCharlieOkeesesattogetherwithKenCaplanandtalked.

CharliewouldliketobuildatraditionalOjibwaystylevillageasatourismattractionforEabametoong.Hedescribedlivinginthewoodsandsleepingonwarmtreebowsheatedbycoalsfromasmallfiretokeepwarm.

CharliedepartedandKenandPatcontinuedtheirconversationaboutPat’sinvolvementwithStephenLewis’s“GrandmothersFoundation.”Manyaspectsofworkaddressedbythe‘Grandmothers’organizationinAfricaarepresentinfirstnationscommunitiesandrequiresimilarurgentattentionsuchascleandrinkingwater.

SweatLodgeVisit

AfterlunchthevisitorsreturnedtothesiteoftheDetoxCentreanditsadjacentSweatLodge.

JonReyMequanawapconductstheSweatLodgeceremoniesandisconsideredbymanytobethe“medicineman”ofEabametoong.

JonReyisaveryspiritualindividualwhohasexperiencedmanychallengesinlife

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toreachhispersonalstateofgraceandcontemplation.

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JonReyexplainedthepurposeandpoweroftheSweatLodge…toenableindividualstogetintouchwiththeirinnerselvesandtoreachouttohelpothersthroughthoughtandreflection.InsidetheSweatLodgethegroupparticipatedinasmudgingceremony.Nophotoswereallowedinside.

InatraditionalSweatLodgeceremony,rockswouldbeheatedredhotoutside

theLodgeandcarriedinoneatatimeandplacedinashallowpit.

Thetemperaturewouldriselikeasauna.MenstripdowntoshortsintheSweatLodge.Womenweartraditionallongskirts.Menandwomenparticipateinceremoniesseparately.

ThereistheonlyoneSweatLodgeinEabametoongalthoughothercommunitieshaveseveral.ThepossiblereasonisthemixoftraditionalcultureandChristianreligionsinEabametoongthathasreducedthenumberofparticipants.

PreparingGeeseforthePowwowSocial

AfterleavingtheLodgethegroupwenttoanearbyareatoparticipateinpluckingandcleaningfreshlykilledgeesethatwouldbeservedattheSaturdaynightPowwowSocialdinner.

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JudyOstamusledthedemonstrationandothersjoinedin.

SmokingSturgeonforthePowwowDinner

ThevisitorsnextdrovetothehomeofRubyWaswa(ChiefAtlookan’ssister)toseethepreparationofsturgeonforsmokingoveranopenfire.

Thesturgeonweighedabout10poundsandtheheadandtailhadbeenremoved.

Ruby’sfiancépreparedalogfireandbroughtalargegrilltothetablewherehetransferredthesturgeontoit.Hecarriedthefishandgrilltothefire.Thesturgeonsmokedforabouttwohours.

ChiefLizdroppedbytovisitbutwithrainbeginningtofallthegroupmovedontotheirnextstopatthewaterfrontwherebandmembershadalreadygathered.

AttheWaterfront

Itwaswindyandcoolwhenthevisitorsarrivedatthewaterfront.Tarpaulinswerestrungfromtrees.Peoplegatheredaroundpicnictablesandalargefire.

Artisansarrivedwiththeirwaresincludinghandmadebeadedgloves,jewelryandblanketsforsale.

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Freshcaughtpickerelwerecleanedandfilletedthenbatteredandfriedinbubblingoiloverthefire.ThepickerelwouldbeservedatthePowwowSocialDinner.

Nearbyaneldercleanedabeaverskin.

EarlierinthedayKenCaplanpurchasedanumberofpairsofbeadedglovesforcustomersinMarkham.ThegloveshadbeenmadebyJaneAtlookan,anelderwomanskilledinthesewingtradition.

ThewaterfrontvisitlastedabouttwohoursbeforethevisitorsandorganizersdrovebacktotheInntoawaitthearrivalofthesecondgroupofShowcasevisitorsfromMarkham.

SecondGroupofVisitorsfromMarkham

Around7:00pmSaturdaythefouradditionalvisitorsarrivedontheNorthStarCharter.ThegroupincludedShakirRematullahandhisyoungsonUsmanandHarpreetSinghbalandhissonChetan.

TheywerewelcomedtotheInnbythedrumminggroup.AftersettlinginandfresheningupallthevisitorsweredriventotheCommunityCentre.

PowwowSocial

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Whenthevisitorsarriveddrummersandsingerswerealreadyperforming.

TheCommunityCentrewassetupwithseatingaroundtheperimeterofthemainroom.Tablesforcraftspeoplewerelocatedinfrontofthestage.OnstagetheMCwaswelcomingpeopleandannouncingtheevening’sevents.

Dancersinregaliaperformedandadditionaldrummingandsingingbegan.

Dancerscameontothefloorspontaneouslyandguestsjoinedin.

AlloftheShowcasevisitorswereinvitedtojointheindigenousdancersonthefloor.

ThePowwowSocialdinnerincludedfriedpickerel,smokedsturgeon,goose,mashedpotatoes,peas,cornandbeans.Dessertfeaturedblueberrypie.

ThevisitorswereintroducedtoChiefAtlookanwhoprovidedashortspeechtowelcomeeveryonetotheevent.

Thevisitorspurchasedmanygiftitems…gloves,moccasins,picturesandsculpturedpieces.Thecraftspeoplewereverypleased.

AfterthePowwowSocialthevisitorswalkedbacktotheInn.Theyrelaxedonthedeckandtalkedaboutthemanynewexperiencestheyhadseenandenjoyedthroughthedayandevening.

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ShakirandHarpreetaskedtogofishingwiththeirsonsSundaymorning.TheShowcaseteammetattheInnthroughtheeveningandorganizedthefishingtripaswellastoursfortheothergroupofvisitors.

SundayMorning

Around8:30am,RickyOstamusandJonReyMequanawaparrivedattheInnandcollectedShakir,Harpreetandtheirboysforfishing.Warmclotheswereprovidedandofftheywent.

TheothervisitorsweredriventothePowwowgroundsweretheywalkedandtookpictures.Theysaweaglesinflightandbearpawprintsinthesand.

Mosquitoheadnetsincludedintheguests’totebagsprovidedgreatprotectionagainstannoyingpests.

ThenextstopwasthecommunityfarmwhereLanceWaboose,thefarmerinchargewasatwork,assistedbyJoséGaticales,apractitionernursefromthenearbynursingstation.FromtherethegrouptookashortdrivetothepartiallycompletedRehabFacility.Thisbeautifulwoodenstructureisbeingcompletedafterrestingunfinishedformanyyears.Itwillprovidelonger-termrehabilitationforbandmembersrecoveringfromopiateandotheraddictions.

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HenriAghaeitookadvantageofadditionalsightseeingbyboatonLakeEbamet.WaterfrontBy11:30amwedrovetothewaterfrontwhereShakir,Harpreetandtheirkidshadreturnedfromfishing.Thetwoboyscaught23pickerelandseveralgood-sizedpikeinatwohourperiod.ThekidswereveryexcitedandwantedtostayinEabametoongformore.

Theircatchwascleanedandpreparedforcookingoveranopenfire.

Thewaterfrontvisitlastedabout90minuteswitheveryoneenjoyingthefish.ThetourcontinuedforShakir,Harpreetandtheirboys,pastthePowwowgrounds,farmandtotheRehabfacility.ShakirandHarpreetwereveryinterestedinthelogconstruction.Theynextvisitedtheschoolandmetwiththeprincipal,BobSalvisburgandVicePrincipalPhilVardy.TheylearnedaboutthemanychallengesofeducationinEabametoongincludinghiringandkeepingteachers,struggleswithInternetandschoolcapacitylimitedtogradeeightclasses.OnthewaybacktotheInnthevisitorsstoppedattheNursingStationandtouredthefacility.

Eabametoong’sNursingStationismodernandefficientcompletewitha

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dentalsuite.ItprovidesemergencyandprimarycarebutcouldbenefitfromdialysistreatmentforeldersinparticularwhocurrentlyarerequiredtotraveltoThunderBayfortheprocedure.

FollowingtheNursingStationtheyreturnedtotheInnwheretheyfreshenedupandpreparedfordeparture.Separatelythefirstgroupvisitedthenewlycreatedsewingcirclelocatedabovethefirehallwhereaward-winningCanadiandesignerLindaLundstromwasmentoringagroupofsewersinthedesignandproductionofmodernindigenousfashions.

WheneveryonereturnedtotheInn,farewellswereexchangedand

drummersbidtheguestsasafejourneywithanOjibwaytravellingsong.

EveryoneagreedthattheCulturalTourismShowcasehadbeenauniqueexperienceforthevisitors,Showcaseorganizers,andallthosewhohadcontributedsomuchtimeandeffort.ThenextShowcaseisintheworks.

ExecutiveTeamTheShowcaseexecutiveteamledbyKenCaplan,(topleft)JenniferDockstator(topright),PaulHolcroft(bottomleft),andRochelleSlipperjack(bottomright),wishyouAANIINandMIGWETCHfromEabametoongFirstNation.JoinusforthenextCulturalTourismShowcase.

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WeextendaspecialthankyoutoAndyTaylor,CAOoftheCityofMarkhamforallhiseffortsinsupportingtheShowcaseandattractingvisitorstotheevent.

WealsoacknowledgeformerChiefLewisNatewhogavetheoriginalgreenlightfortheskillstraininginitiativethatculminatedinCulturalTourismShowcase.

AndwerecognizeHelenPoizner,ChairNationalSocialActionCommittee,CanadianCouncilForReformJudaismforbringingtogetherJenniferDockstatorandKenCaplanonthisremarkablejourney.

WeofferourthankstoChiefAtlookanofEabametoongFirstNation,MayorFrankScarpittioftheCityofMarkhamandtheirCouncilsfortheirconstantsupport.

Wealsowishtothankoursponsors;

• IndigenousandNorthernAffairsCanada

• OntarioAboriginalEconomicDevelopmentFund

• NorthernOntarioEconomicDevelopmentFundCorporation

• EabametoongFirstNation• PovertyActionResearchProject(PARP)• KiikenomagaKikenjigewen(KKETS)EmploymentandTrainingServices

MIGWETCH!Copyright:KennethCaplanandAssociatesLimited,2017