LAST UPDATE
JULY 10, 2008 at 10:00 P.M.

Annual Gathering

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GRANDFATHER WILLIAM COMMANDA'S
ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL
CIRCLE OF ALL NATIONS SPIRITUAL GATHERING

AUGUST 1, 2 and 3, 2008
KITIGAN ZIBI

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.
  • Approximately 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 traffic 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 through 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.