Indigenous Welcome Feast feeds the soul
Posted on Wednesday, September 4th, 2019
A visit with old friends, a chance to make new ones and plenty of food for thought were all part of the Indigenous Welcome Feast Wednesday at the Mamidosewin Centre.
After welcoming everyone in Ojibwe, Jackie Tenute — a Councillor with Indigenous Services and Partnerships at the College— sang a song acknowledging the ancestors. Following the warm welcome, Elder Terry McKay addressed the room.
“This is the time of year where children were picked up by churches and the RCMP. It was very traumatic for them . . . You have a chance to further your education and be better people, and when you become better people don’t forget your parents and grandparents. And don’t forget Mother Earth. She needs our help so much now.”
Ron Deganadus McLester, Vice President, Truth, Reconciliation and Indigenization, called upon everyone to “be thankful” and then put out a call to action. “I need you folks to help each other take care of this place,” said McLester, referring to the Mamidosewin Centre. “We care about you very much and this is just the beginning.”
President Claude Brulé concluded the welcome remarks. “I encourage all of us to do better than we did yesterday for the betterment of Algonquin College and the betterment of our community.”
And then it was time to eat. Close to 40 students were treated to a home-cooked feast complete with veggies grown from the Three Sisters garden, and pies and cookies for dessert.
New students were also welcomed by returning students like Janelle Niles, who is entering her second-year of Massage Therapy. “It’s like family,” said Niles. “We all come together and we eat together and we pray together.” Niles is in the process of applying to be a Leader at the Mamidosewin Centre so she can advocate on behalf of students. “As a comedian, I plan to have events (at the Mamidosewin Centre) to help create a dialogue with comedy about Indigenous struggles and trauma.”
Gregory Phillips, the Mamidosewin Centre’s Pathfinder, said the important part of the Welcome Feast is that the students get to know each other. “Maybe they’ll find a student in a similar program, maybe they’ll find a student from a similar community, maybe they’ll just meet another Indigenous student they can relate to,” he said. Icebreaker games were also part of the welcome event, which helped make it the most successful one yet. “The turnout this year has been tremendous,” said Phillips.
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