Elders and Traditional Peoples Gathering

The 18th annual Elders and Traditional Peoples Gathering will be a combination of Elder teachings and wellness stations taking place in safe spaces for learning, sharing and building connections.

January 25-26, 2024, UM Fort Garry campus
Multi-Purpose Room, University Centre and various locations
See full event schedule below

All are welcome to attend this free cultural learning event.

Lunch will be provided.

Day One, Jan. 25, 2024

8:30 a.m.          Doors open at Migizii Agamik
                           114 Sidney Smith St.

9:00 a.m.          Pipe and Water Ceremony, Migizii Agamik
                           Elders Florence Paynter and Carl Stone

9:30 a.m.          Doors open at MPR, University Centre

10:00 a.m.        Opening Remarks

11:00 a.m.        Concurrent sessions

Elder Teaching with Grandfather Wanbdi Wakita

Fireside Chats with Elder Carl Stone and Professor Frank Deer
Gaa-maamawabing, Education Building, 71 Curry Pl.

12:15 p.m.        Lunch

1:15 p.m.          Elder Teaching with Elders Florence and Philip Paynter

2:30 p.m.          Break

2:45 p.m.          Elder Teaching with Elder Charlotte Nolin

4:15 p.m.          Closing Reflections

4:30 p.m.          Meal & Visiting (all welcome)

Day Two, Jan. 26, 2024

8:30 a.m.          Doors open at Multi-Purpose Room (MPR)
                           University Centre, 65 Chancellor's Circle

9:00 a.m.          Opening Remarks

9:30 a.m.          Elder Teaching with Elder Valdie Seymour

10:45 a.m.        Break

11:00 a.m.        Elder Teaching with Elder Norman Meade

12:15 p.m.        Lunch

1:15 p.m.          Elder Teaching with Elder Paul Guimond and
                           Knowledge Keeper Kim Guimond

2:30 p.m.          Break

2:45 p.m.          Closing Reflections, Elder Norman Meade

3:30 p.m.          Pipe Ceremony at Migizii Agamik

*A Sacred Fire will be lit daily at Migizii Agamik and the Circle Room will be available throughout the gathering as a quiet reflection space.

Day One Wellness Stations:

1:15 - 4:00 p.m.
Indoor activity: Beading Workshop with Crystal Byer
MPR Breakout Room, University Centre

1:15 - 2:30 p.m.
Indoor/Outdoor activity: UM Indigenous Birding Club
Meet in the Circle Room, Migizii Agamik

Day Two Wellness Stations:

9:30 - 10:30 a.m. and 12:15 - 1:15 p.m.
Medicine Pouches with Ernie Daniels Jr.
MPR Breakout Room, University Centre

11:00 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. and 1:15 - 2:30 p.m.
Eagle Fanning with Kathy Pompana
MPR Breakout Room, University Centre

Elder Carl Stone
Elder Carl W. Stone (B.A.) was born on the Brokenhead Ojibway Nation. For the last 46 years, Carl has been active in the reclaiming of the Anishinabe Spiritual and Cultural ways of his people. Carl worked as a student advisor for over 20 years at the Indigenous Student Centre (ISC) at UM and retired in 2020. He continues to serve the community and works in ceremonies such as the Sundance, Sweat Lodge and others. He is now an Elder in residence at ISC.

Elder Charlotte Nolin
Charlotte is a Two-Spirit Métis woman, a Survivor of the “Sixties Scoop” and member of the 2SLGBTQQIA+ community. Charlotte has spent the last 35 years of her career working in social services, helping families, youth and children in care. She is also a Sweat Lodge keeper. She continues to serve her community as an Elder in residence at Ongomiizwin – Indigenous Institute of Health and Healing at UM.

Knowledge Keeper Kim Guimond & Elder Paul Guimond
Kim is a proud Anishinaabe from Sagkeeng First Nation. She is a mother, grandma, and great-grandma. Kim married her husband Paul in 1976 and together they have played a role in bringing back traditional ceremonies to their home community. Kim taught middle years students at Sagkeeng First Nation for 17 years and in 2018, she helped promote the first Ojibwe bilingual program with Seven Oaks School Division. She is the Knowledge Keeper in residence at the Indigenous Student Centre.

Elder Paul Guimond is part of the Turtle Clan and his Spirit Name is Okonace (Little Eagle Bone). Paul studied Counselling Skills at UM and is a certified coach in hockey, baseball and lacrosse. He is a Sundance Bundle Carrier (Chief), Sweat Lodge Bundle Carrier (Water drum) and Dark Room Bundle Carrier. He is an active Elder with Addictions Foundation of Manitoba and Sagkeeng Child & Family Services, where he offers healing, guidance in spiritual growth and personal development through ceremony, programming and encouraging healthy relationships. Paul joined the Elder-in-Residence Program at Red River College Polytechnic in 2018.

Elder Norman Meade
Norman Meade was born in Bissett, MB, and grew up in the Métis settlement of Manigotagan. Norman has two children, six grandchildren and two-great grandchildren. In the early 1960's, Norman was hired at the gold mine in Bissett where he eventually became a full-fledged miner. Norman continues to be active in the community serving as an Elder and a pastor and on various boards. He’s also the founder of the Aboriginal Curling League of Winnipeg. He is an Elder in residence for the Indigenous Student Centre.

Elders Philip and Florence Paynter
Philip Paynter is from Norway House Cree Nation and is a fourth degree Midewiwin of the Minwewewigan Lodge. Elder Paynter served for many years as a spiritual advisor and Elder at Stony Mountain Penitentiary. He is also a retired cultural teacher having taught young people about tradition and spirituality at the Niji Mahkwa School in Winnipeg, MB, and a former counsellor for First Nations students at all levels in the education system.

Florence Paynter is from Sandy Bay First Nation and a band member of Norway House Cree Nation. She is a third degree Mide Anishinabekwe and holds a Masters Degree in Education from UM. Florence speaks Anishinabe fluently and has been involved in many language and cultural initiatives and ceremonies. She helps teach the cultural and spiritual knowledge and traditions of the Anishinabe people. Florence attended residential school and works hard to teach about the history of her people, the legacy of Indian residential schools and its impact on us as people. She believes that we can be proud of who we are by learning about our own families, our own histories and our own languages.

Elder Valdie Seymour
From 1980 to 2022, Valdie built a robust expertise in developing programs for facilitating, training and teaching community-based process development. He is the founder Valdie Seymour and Associates, where all aspects of community work that is developed and designed is rooted in values and teachings of Anishinaabe culture. Valdie currently works as the Elder-in-Residence at the Faculty of Architecture, University of Manitoba. Since April 2022, his work has been focused on guiding cross-cultural teachings to the students and staff about the relationship Indigenous Peoples had with creation—land, air, water, animal, and plant life.

Wanbdi Wakita
Wanbdi is a Wicasa Wakan. As a residential school survivor, peace keeper with the Canadian Armed Forces, Chief of Sioux Valley Dakota Nation and Sundance Chief, Wanbdi has walked many paths. For over three decades he provided counselling and ceremony to inmates in various Correctional Institutions. In 2016 he received the Order of Manitoba for his lifelong work to champion a message of healing and unity between all nations. Presently he is the Unkan (Grandfather) in Residence for the University of Manitoba Access Programs.