Our doors and registration are open to welcome all Symposium Attendees. Join us in the lobby to register, then attend an evening of cultural activities sure to delight.

6:30 - 7:30PM | Drum Circle
Take a beat and join Fire Wolf - Christina Betinkis in our drum circle with your own drum or rattle.

7:30 - 8:00PM | Native Pool Boy
Sean Morriseau, also known as Native Pool Boy, is a content creator, influencer and comedic storyteller from Fort William First Nation Ontario. He focuses on healing through laughter and bringing light to topics that are sometimes hard to discuss.

Complimentary breakfast provided. Join your peers and colleagues for a delicious bite and delightful conversation.

Come together in a cultural ceremony to mark the start of many great discussions to come. Engage with your peers, share your thoughts, and hear the stories of our People.

We'll kick off with an opening song featuring Fire Wolf, Christina Bekintis, drumming by Singing Spirit. Chief Constant will extend a warm welcome to the territory, followed by context setting from Lorraine Rekmans. To set the tone, we'll then transition into an introductory circle with a talking stick.

This project aims to protect 300,000 square kilometres of marine and terrestrial landscapes in the Mushkegowuk Home Lands, aligning with Canada's 30% conservation target by 2030. The initiative emphasizes a comprehensive approach to preserve the ecological integrity and biodiversity of this culturally significant region. Focusing on the delicate balance between marine and terrestrial ecosystems, it strives to create a resilient and sustainable environment for current and future generations.

Visit the health bar and recharge with refreshments while taking the time to visit the Symposium Supporter booths to start a dialogue with these fantastic organizations.

An insightful presentation on Guardian by LlamaZOO, a groundbreaking digital platform transforming natural resource management and land stewardship. Explore its impactful collaboration with FP Innovations and its significant applications among West Coast / Coastal First Nations. Discover how Guardian is revolutionizing land stewardship, merging traditional knowledge, GIS and earth science data, with cutting-edge 3D visualization technology. Through engaging case studies, we'll reveal how this platform is enabling First Nations to monitor and manage lands effectively, fostering environmental sustainability and economic development.

In this session representatives will share the journey of the RAD Network into a collaborative woven hub, along with examples from the growing field of Nature-based Solutions. Session speakers will present how these emerging ways to finance land/water protection and stewardship could support the cultural, ecological and political goals of Nations.

Grab a chair, savour a buffet lunch, and make meaningful connections with your peers and colleagues. This is your chance to visit the Symposium Supporter booths for more engaging networking.

Engage in dialogue that explores our collective and inherent rights as Indigenous People. Share, learn, and discuss how Communities are working together to gain progress through the power of voice.

Take advantage of this opportune moment to foster connections and forge new ones. Explore interactive booths, engage in enlightening podcasts, and enjoy delightful refreshments.

Gather the 4 sacred medicines, Cedar, Sage, Sweetgrass, and Tobacco. Take care of these medicines in your medicine bag as you journey from the symposium and onto your own stewardship path

Indulge in the rich tradition of savouring warm bannock with the Ojibway Cree Cultural Center. Delight in this cultural staple, crafted with care and steeped in Indigenous heritage.

Join the Wahkohtowin team to give your opinion on how wetlands should be identified in a culturally appropriate way. Participation in the survey will earn a ballot for "All Our Ancestors" an original artwork by Fire Wolf featured at this years Symposium.

Unwind after a day full of discussion with your peers and colleagues. Share stories, thoughts, and a delightful meal together.

Enjoy a video production by Wahkohtowin and the Centre for Northern Forest Ecosystem Research highlighting local Indigenous perspectives on forest management. Followed by discussion.

Pull up a seat and take the opportunity to network with your peers and colleagues while enjoying a full buffet breakfast.

Start todays events with fresh perspective. Engage in culture with Fire Wolfs song, immerse in discussion, and share in purpose as we present the ceremonial Star Blanket, symbolizing our unity.

Join us in a facilitated open mic discussion amongst all participants, focused on Indigenous-led monitoring projects that occur on our shared traditional territories. Share your lands and resources projects that track and evaluate the ecological, social, and economic aspects that ensure sustainable management and biodiversity conservation.

Visit the health bar and recharge with refreshments while taking the time to visit the Symposium Supporter booths and start a dialogue with these fantastic organizations.

Moose/Mooz/Moswa populations in Ontario are facing numerous threats related to climate change and habitat loss. As a species of great cultural and subsistence importance to many First Nations, there is significant interest in developing Indigenous-led and collaborative management and monitoring projects for moose. The WISE lab (Wildlife, Indigenous Science, and Ecology) at the University of Guelph is weaving Indigenous & Western Knowledge to monitor moose and investigate population declines. In this session, members of the WISE lab will present on community-based moose projects and share how they are working to bring Knowledge Systems together and work with communities in a good way.

Learn how the Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas data can be accessed and used for understanding changes in bird populations in your traditional territories. Speak to an experienced local bird surveyor about how sharing knowledge can contribute to a deeper understanding of birds in the boreal forest. Find out how to access funding for bird monitoring equipment, technical support and/or community events in your community.

Pull up a seat and take the opportunity to network with your peers and colleagues while enjoying a buffet lunch. Make sure to visit the Symposium Supporter booth location in the lobby.

Embark on a transformative journey with a panel of Indigenous youth as we explore how guardianship rekindles profound connections to land, community, and culture. This presentation unveils a renewed sense of purpose and stewardship, fostering sustainable legacies.

Explore the intricate dynamics of climate change, forest management, and wildfires, and delve into the realm of modelling to gain insights into their long-term impacts over the next 50 to 100 years. Engage in a live survey, where your participation not only contributes to the discussion but also qualifies you for an exciting participation prize. Join us in deciphering the future landscape and understanding the critical role of advanced modelling in shaping sustainable solutions.

Take time for reflection, connection,and refrehsments while exploring Symposium Supporter booths, podcasts, and fireside drumming at the Tipi.

As Shkakamik Kwe (Mother Earth) faces unprecedented human-caused
biodiversity loss, it is time we stand together to protect all our relations and work toward
rekindling healthy relationships with the Land. Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory members
Elder Theodore Flamand and Jesse Popp will share insights about their collaborative journey
together on multiple Indigenous-led species-at-risk projects that have worked to bring together
Indigenous knowledge and Western science in ways that have prioritized Indigenous values
while engaging youth as environmental caretakers of the future.

Wrap up the days events with a captivating closing ceremony featuring Singing Spirits' drumming. Together we reflect on the unity, purpose, and the connections, made through our collective experience.

Join the final feast prepared by Marianne Chookomolin, a local Indigenous caterer, and give thanks for our time together.

Step into the tipi, immersing yourself in an evening dedicated to healing in reverence of the moon, earth, and women. Embrace the ceremonial atmosphere by donning a long skirt, carrying a vessel for water, and, if available, bringing your drum to join in this sacred gathering.

Meet and connect with your colleagues and attendees of the Indigenous Lands Symposiums drumming group to immerse in culture and conversation.

Join us in the Goldrush Ballroom for a final buffet breakfast and collect your boxed-to-go lunch.

A shuttle bus will be available in front of the hotel at 9:00, leaving at 9:15 to bring participants to the Sewn Home location approximately 20 minutes from the hotel. Participants are also welcome to travel in
their own vehicles.

A visit to the Sewn Home facility, an indoor / outdoor tour to learn about the traditional process of building tipis and lodges including sustainable pole harvest practices, a demo structure, and opportunity to try out hand tools. A fire and light refreshments will be provided. Bus departs back to the Ramada at 12:00.