Lt. Gov. Bartleman at Aboriginal Awareness Days

 

(Above: Lt. Gov. James Bartleman taking part in a ceremony last year at the Association for Native Development in the Arts festival, held at the Harbourfront Centre.)

Ontario Lt. Gov. James Bartleman, left, will give the keynote address at the opening of the first annual Aboriginal Awareness Days and Pow Wow at York on March 28, between 10:15 and 10:45am, in Founders Assembly Hall, room 152 Founders College. A traditional pow wow will be held Saturday, March 29, from 1 to 5:30pm, Winters Dining Hall, room C001 Winters College.

The inaugural event, with its theme “Creating New Beginnings”, runs March 28 and 29 at various venues around the Keele campus.

Host Randy Pitawanakwat, right, York Aboriginal counsellor, will address the community at the opening ceremonies, 10am, after which Lillian McGregor, elder, will give the opening prayer. After Bartleman’s remarks, the following people will speak: VP Students and Alumni Bonnie Neuman; First Nations & Aboriginal Students Association president Greggann Isaacs; and First Nations & Aboriginal Law Students Association president Etienne Esquega.

There will be arts and crafts for sales. In addition, workshops will be held throughout both days, given by Edna Manitowabi, elder and professor at Trent University; John Aguonia, elder, Sheguiandah First Nation; and Bev Jacobs, educator/traditional person, Six Nations of the Grand River.

All dancers welcome!

To see the schedule of events, visit http://www.yorku.ca/fnasa/powwow_flyer2003.htm. For more information, please contact: Randy Pitawanakwat at ext. 22607 or rpitawan@yorku.ca.