Feather & Cross
The Feather & Cross project provides a safe space for Lutherans to learn about Indigenous practices and ways of life. We will nurture relationships and deepen our knowledge through a series of intergenerational workshops which explore Indigenous and Christian teachings, respecting the distinct spirituality of each tradition .The principle of multiage mentoring of youth-children, adults-youth, elders-children will provide opportunities for all to learn from one another. For Lutheran youth and adults, the Indigenous teachings will provide a framework to understand and appreciate the worldview and priorities of our Indigenous neighbours.
Events
13 Moons Teachings | March 22
Join us for 13 Moons teaching by Elder Myeengun Henry at LHI - Lyle S. Hallman Institute for Health Promotion, Indigenous Gathering Space - Room 3701. Event runs from 2:30 to 4:00. Learn more about the teachings at: https://uwaterloo.ca/health/events/indigenous-learning-circle
Sugarbush Adventure | March 11
Join us on march 11th from 10:00am to 12:00pm for a session of land based learning led by indigenous educator Dave Skene.
Get your tickets at: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/sugarbush-adventure-at-white-owl-sugar-bush-tickets-545379734467
Recent Events
Adult Education at Trillium | January 25 5:30 p.m
Join us at Trillium Church for an Adult Education Night. See Trillium website for more details: https://trilliumwaterloo.ca/
Jonathan Maracle Concert
Saturday January 28, 2023 7 pm
FREE LIVE CONCERT!
We invite and welcome you to join us on Saturday January 28, 2023 for the
“Many Voices, One Heart” Concert at 54 Benton Street, Kitchener. Admission
is free and the concert will begin at 7:00 PM.
Come Make Art With Us: October 23rd, 1pm - 3pm
Come Make Art with Us is a free, intergenerational event and all are welcome (supervised children and youth are encouraged to participate). This is a great opportunity to meet, support and learn from these talented Indigenous artists. We’ve got a creative event October 23, 2022 1-3 pm, a collaboration by Music of the Spirit, Feather & Cross, Thirdspace, Kanata Centre @Luther, and the Eastern Synod.
Along Her Banks: September 10th
Join Mary Anne Caibaiosai, Water-walker, knowledge-keeper, artist and educator along the banks of the Grand River. She will share knowledge gained from completing a four-year journey with the All Nations Grand River Water Walk, and the collective hope for these beautiful waters.
Please bring a lawn chair or blanket to sit on for the teaching portion of the gathering. These teachings will be followed by a clean up of the trail and banks. Please bring your own gloves/ tongs for picking up garbage. Dress appropriately for the weather, the woods and the water. You may want to bring bug spray, sunscreen lotion and boots. Please also bring reusable water bottles instead of plastic bottles. Bags for recycling and garbage will be provided. Please supervise young children near the water.
Event begins Saturday September 10, 2022 at 10 am and ends around Noon
Please meet at Stanley Park Optimist Natural Area 19 Crestview Pl
Outdoor Kairos Blanket Exercise: June 27th (28th if rain)
Join the talking circle from 19:00-20:30 followed by a youth guitar/uke jam session led by six nations guest musician James Wilson from 20:30 to 21:30.
Join us at 22 Willow st, Waterloo - Trillium Lutheran & Elevation Church
Broadening our own awareness and changing the way we educate both ourselves, our children and grandchildren is an important step towards mending broken relationships. The blanket exercise is a unique visual and engaging activity that teaches the story of settlers & Indigenous peoples together on Turtle Island.
Families of all ages welcome
Refreshments provided by Trillium
Youth Jam session led by J&J
Sign the petition and help compensate
Signing this petition will extend the deadline for applicants to receive compensation and allow more people to qualify for compensation.
Indigenous Land-Based Learning Cont.
Participants followed Nathan through the meadow habitat with tall grasses, bird boxes, newly planted oak saplings, and paw paw to be used for future food sources.
We gave thanks to the cedar trees with a pinch of tobacco and harvested some for tea. A great source of vitamin C, and even more delicious with a bit of syrup made from the White Owl Sugarbush.
Some participants worked in the medicine garden watering plants, pulling weeds, chopping branches, spreading wood chips, and eating strawberries.
Indigenous Land-Based Learning
Many thanks to Indigenous Land-Based Educator Dave Skene and Outdoor Educator Nathan Mantey for leading our Feather & Cross group around Blair Outdoor Education Centre and teaching us about the Food and Medicine garden.
There was a chilly but sunbathed start to the day in a multi generational sharing circle. Thirty participants shared their ancestry. Many were from Germany, Scotland, Poland, England, and First Nations too.
Nathan and Dave discussed their personal journeys of how they came together to teach Land-Based learning and the grounds they care for. Most participated in a smudging,
Together Building a community of understanding , healing and hope
https://www.crowshieldlodge.com
Music for the Spirit
We are situated on land that is the traditional home of the Neutral, Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabe Peoples. We extend our respect to all First Nations, Metis & Inuit Peoples for their past and present contributions to this land.
Kitchener-Waterloo is located on the Haldimand Tract, which, on October 25, 1784, after the American Revolutionary War of Independence, an area was given to the Six Nations of the Grand River by the British as compensation for their role in the war and for the loss of their traditional lands in Upstate New York . Of the 950,000 acres given to the Haudenosaunee (six miles on either side of the Grand River, all the way along its length), only 46,000 acres (less than 5 per cent) remain Six Nations land.