Traditional Knowledge Highlighted at Harvest Feasts
A drumming circle during the Midland Community Feast

This fall the Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO) Lands, Resources and Consultations Branch held a series of exciting Community Feasts in Kenora (October 15), Thunder Bay (November 18), Midland (November 25) and Peterborough (November 26). Each event featured Forestry and Traditional Knowledge presentations as well as Métis cultural entertainment. Hundreds of people attended the feasts where they enjoyed delicious traditional food and the chance to both renew friendships and create new ones!

The forestry presentation focused on establishing Métis co-management of forests. Currently forests are managed either by government or industry. A trend is developing that Aboriginal peoples co-manage forests with government or industry and it is important that the Métis become part of that trend. In addition to the forestry presentation, each feast featured other presentations as well. For example in Thunder Bay, recovering Lake Sturgeon was a topic and two young Métis men gave an enthusiastic talk about the canoe trek they take every year to relive their Voyageur heritage. In Midland there were presentations on traditional plant uses, the history of the sash as well as both men and women’s drumming circles.

In the New Year, feasts will be held in Sault Ste. Marie (January 13), Kitchener (January 20), Timmins (January 21) and Sudbury (January 28).