GRANDFATHER
WILLIAM COMMANDA’S
ANNUAL
INTERNATIONAL
CIRCLE OF ALL
NATIONS SPIRITUAL GATHERING
AUGUST 1, 2 AND
3, 2008
KITIGAN ZIBI
ANISHINABEG
Grandfather William Commanda is pleased
to invite you to his annual international spiritual gathering at his home at
Bitobi Lake, Kitizan Zibi Reserve, Maniwaki, Quebec.
The key themes that Grandfather advances
at the Gathering, through a series of presentations and workshops, are
Indigenous
Wisdom, Respect for Mother Earth and Healing,
Racial Harmony,
Social
Justice and
Peace Building.
The Special Focus for
2008 is COMMUNICATIONS!
Come prepared to share
your own story about why the gathering is important to you – we really want to
document the nature of this transformative experience, and need your help to do
this!
The Gathering provides opportunity for
community development, networking, individual and communal healing, spiritual
growth and creativity. Its key objectives are to
* Share the wisdom, knowledge and sacred
teachings of Indigenous Elders, Spiritual leaders and Medicine people
* Promote discussion on a range of topics –
justice, poverty, aids, racism, spirituality, peace, leadership, healing
* Raise awareness about our
relationship with Mother Earth
* Facilitate individual
healing, spiritual growth and creativity
* Foster
positive inter personal relationships and harmony
* Celebrate life, and build
community
A special priority is the vision for
ASINABKA, the Sacred Chaudière Site, including the Healing and Peace Building Centre
on Victoria Island.
The daily activity plan is simple and
comprehensive:
* Sunrise pipe ceremonies,
* Morning presentations by special guests,
* Afternoon workshops, sweat lodge and other
healing ceremonies and creative
activities,
* Late afternoon time for personal
reflection,
* Evening drumming, dancing and
socialization.
On Saturday evening, all participate in
a community feast, and on Sunday afternoon, in a traditional Giveaway Ceremony.
Grandfather encourages participants to
engage in all the activities; the weekend is an unprecedented blueprint for
experiencing the timeless wisdom of the Sacred Medicine Wheel, with
extraordinary opportunity for emotional, physical, spiritual and mental
development.
The Gathering is a very special event
that engenders a spirit of generosity and generates harmony, peace and unity.
ALL ARE WELCOME!
DETAILS:
Date
* 1,2, and 3 August, 2008, commencing at sunrise on Friday, and
closing on Sunday afternoon
* Camp
set up commences on Thursday
Location
* Grandfather
Commanda’s residence, 231 Pitobig Mikan, Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg, Maniwaki,
Quebec, J9E 3B1.
* Camping
space is available; there are also hotels and motels in town.
* Please
bring your own tents, sleeping bags, personal supplies, equipment and food.
* There are outdoor toilet facilities and
bathing at the lakeshore shower
Spaces
* Parking
– special parking lot across the road
* Camping
– north of homes, alongside the road
* Security
– entrance and elsewhere
* Communications and Registration – beside
Grandfather’s shop
* Vendor
for fast food – beside Grandfather’s shop
* Kitchen, Elders’ Eating Space – North of
Grandfather’s home
* Sweat
Lodge Ceremonies – East of Grandfather’s home
* Sacred
Fire, Sunrise Ceremonies, Meditation – Sacred Point
* Morning
presentations – Lakeside Arbor
* Children’s
activities, Drumming, Giveaway – Round Arbor
* Workshops
– Lodge, Lakeside Arbor, grounds
Ceremonies
* Please
respect the expectations of the Fire Keeper, Elders, Lodge Keepers, ceremonial
leaders and security, with respect to individual protocols – tobacco offerings,
dress (especially for the sweat lodges: cotton, long gowns or loose cotton
skirts and t-shirts for women, shorts for men), moon cycles, etc.
Considerations
PLEASE: NO DRUGS; NO
ALCOHOL; NO PETS.
* This
in an indigenous spiritual gathering, rather than a camping outing, and ALL ARE ASKED TO DRESS WITH RESPECT AND
DECORUM THROUGHOUT.
* Please
take special care with dress, noise and conduct in the area designated for the
sacred ceremonies - East of Grandfather’s home
* Children
are welcome and some activities are organized for them; however, THERE IS NO BABYSITTING, AND PARENTS ARE
FULLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR CHILDREN AT ALL TIMES.
* NO BOATING is permitted.
* NO SWIMMING into the lake is permitted; PARENTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SUPERVISION
OF CHILDREN AT THE WATER’S EDGE.
* Donations
for the Giveaway and Community Feast are welcomed.
* Please
be respectful of the communities at Kitign Zibi and Maniwaki
Volunteers
* Grandfather
Commanda hosts this Gathering in its entirety; his friends volunteer to prepare
for the Gathering and to clean up afterwards, and to take care of most needs
during the Gathering.
* ADDITIONAL VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED THROUGHOUT
THE GATHERING
to help with security duties, food preparation and cleanup, assisting elders,
facilities cleanup etc. Please be generous with your support: sign
up on the Volunteer List in the Communications Booth upon registration.
Directions:
From Ottawa and
points South:
* Go
North to Maniwaki
* As
you approach Maniwaki and enter the 50 km per hour zone you will see a flashing
traffic light in front of a Freshmart Grocery store on the right.
* There
is a "T" shaped intersection there, turn left, go down that road,
cross a small bridge and continue past a sharp curve until you come to another
"T" shaped intersection located just before a children’s playground
equipped with colourful plastic slides and castle like structures.
* There
is a stop sign there, make your stop and turn left.
* Stay
on that road for approximately 4 kilometres.
* You will see the Gathering grounds on
your left as you drive along a lake on your left.
From Montreal
and points East:
* It
is much shorter to come through Grand Remous.
* Approximatly
20 KM past Mont Laurier, there is a small town called Grand Remous.
* Just
past the town bridge, there is a flashing traffic light indicating the
intersection to Maniwaki.
* Turn
left to go to Maniwaki.
* Drive
South through Maniwaki until you get to a flashing trafic light in front of a
Freshmart grocery store.
* Turn
right at that intersection, go down that road, cross a small bridge and
continue past a sharp curve until you come to another "T" shaped
intersection located just before a children’s playground equipped with
colourful plastic slides and castle like structures.
* There
is a stop sign there, make your stop and turn left.
* Stay
on that road for approximately 4 kilometres.
* You
will see the Gathering grounds on you left as you drive along a lake on your
left.
From points
West:
* It
is shortest to come trough Pembrook and cross the
Ottawa River to the Province of Quebec.
* Follow
direction to Cambell's Bay and from there turn North West to Kazabazua.
* From
Kazabazua, turn left to Maniwaki.
* As
you approach Maniwaki and enter the 50 km per hour zone you will traffic light
in front of a Freshmart Grocery store on the right.
* There
is a "T" shaped intersection there ,turn
left, go down that road, cross a small bridge and continue past a sharp curve
until you come to another "T" shaped intersection located just before
a children’s playground equipped with colourful plastic slides and castle like
structures.
* There
is a stop sign there, make your stop and turn left.
* Stay on that road for
approximately 4 kilometres. You will see the Gathering grounds on your left as
you drive along a lake on your left.
MOST PEOPLE CAMP. POSSIBLE ACCOMMODATION
OPTIONS WITH RESTAURANTS IN THE TOWN OF MANIWAKI INCLUDE:
CHATEAU LOGUE - 1-818-449-4848;
AUBERGE DU DRAVEUR – www.aubergedraveur.qc.ca; 1-819-449-7022;
AUBERGE DE LA DESERT – 1-819-449-1213
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE WRITE TO US
AT circleofallnations@sympatico.ca or call 819-449-2668 or
613-599-8385
DAILY AGENDA
ELDER WILLIAM
COMMANDA’S
CIRCLE OF ALL
NATIONS
ANNUAL
SPIRITUAL GATHERING
AUGUST 1 - 3,
2008
Special Focus -
Communications
A special priority is the vision for
ASINABKA, the Sacred Chaudière Site, including the Healing and Peace Building
Centre on Victoria Island.
5.30 – 7.30
SUNRISE CEREMONY
7.30 – 9.00
BREAKFAST
9.00 – 12.00
DAILY PRESENTATIONS AND TEACHINGS
12.00 - 1.30
LUNCH
1.30 - 4.00
SMALL TALKING CIRCLES – LIST AT COMMUNICATIONS BOOTH*
SWEAT LODGE
CEREMONIES COMMENCE
4.00 - 8.00
INDIVIDUAL ACTIVITIES, DINNER
8.00 - 11.00
DRUMMING, DANCING AND SOCIALIZATION
NOTE SATURDAY
6.00 PM – COMMUNITY FEAST
SUNDAY 1.30 PM
- CLOSING CEREMONIES, GIVEAWAY
*Circle of All Nations volunteers and
other interested parties will be coordinating small talking circles on various
topics of interest: Asinabka, The Sacred Chaudière Site, including the Victoria
Island Healing Centre Project, Circle of All Nations, Water Stewardship;women’s
issues; French talking circle; conflict resolution; nutrition; health,
environmental issues etc. Participants are encouraged to participate, share or
coordinate circles on topics of interest to themselves and others on the
grounds. You are requested to communicate your interest in this regard to
volunteers at the communications booth upon registration .
Circle of All Nations volunteers thank Grandfather William Commanda and his family for sharing their home with us and we commit on behalf of all participants to honour and respect this generosity.