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• Sept 5 & 6 2026: Eelūnaapèewii Lahkèewiit Competition Pow Wow

  

  Eelūnaapèewii Lahkèewiit is hosting their 54th annual Competition Pow Wow on Saturday, September 5 and Sunday, September 6th.

  Everyone is welcome.

  
  

  Location: Behind the Community Centre at 14811 Schools Line in Bothwell.

  Admission: Adults $10. Seniors/Children under 12 $5. Children under 3 are free.

  Grand entry: 12PM and 7PM on Saturday and 12PM on Sunday.

  No pets. Drug & alcohol free event. Bring a lawn chair.

  For more information visit their Facebook page or contact powwow@delawarenation.on.ca or call main office 519-692-3936 and leave a message

  
  

  See tips for attending pow wows below the flyer.

  

  Learn more about Pow Wows andContinue reading

  Eelūnaapèewii Lahkèewiit is hosting their 54th annual Competition Pow Wow on Saturday, September 5 and Sunday, September 6th.

  Everyone is welcome.

  
  

  Location: Behind the Community Centre at 14811 Schools Line in Bothwell.

  Admission: Adults $10. Seniors/Children under 12 $5. Children under 3 are free.

  Grand entry: 12PM and 7PM on Saturday and 12PM on Sunday.

  No pets. Drug & alcohol free event. Bring a lawn chair.

  For more information visit their Facebook page or contact powwow@delawarenation.on.ca or call main office 519-692-3936 and leave a message

  
  

  See tips for attending pow wows below the flyer.

  

  Learn more about Pow Wows and etiquette:

  A primer on Indigenous Pow Wows from Indigenous Corporate Training(External link).

  Indigenous Pow Wow Protocols from Indigenous Corporate Training(External link)

  Indigenous Pow Wow Dances from Indigenous Corporate Training(External link)

  
  

  Tips for Attending:

  Listen to the Master of Ceremonies – they’ll explain what’s happening to help visitors.

  Ask permission before taking pictures.

  Want to get in on the dancing? Listen for the Intertribal dances - these are for all people present to participate in the dance.

  Don’t touch people’s regalia without permission. They are not costumes and hold special meaning to dancers.

  Support the vendors. Some vendors may have interact or etransfer options, but please make sure you have cash on hand as well.

  Outdoor settings are sometimes uneven so watch your footing.

  Sometimes bleachers are available for people, but it never hurts to bring a chair with you.

  Seats closest to the dancing circle are reserved for singers, dancers, and drummers.

  Respect that some sections set aside for those with mobility issues to sit with mobile chairs or walkers.

  Leave pets at home as animals are not necessary at cultural gatherings and ceremonial functions.

  Don’t bring alcohol or drugs.

  Have fun!

• Sept 10-20, 2026: CK Welcome Week

  

  Save the Date! Chatham-Kent's annual Welcome Week is happening September 10th - 20th, 2006.

  CK Welcome Week is an opportunity to showcase and celebrate the diversity of our community.

  Stay tuned to the CK Welcome Week website for events.

  
  

  Host an Event!

  Community groups and organizations are invited to host events or collaborate on initiatives that promote inclusion and belonging. Ideas for events or activities you could host during the week are below, though this list is not exhaustive:

  • an open house or networking event
  • volunteering opportunity
  • civic engagement
  • open book club, or storytelling event
  • sharing employee experiences
  • workshops orContinue reading

  Save the Date! Chatham-Kent's annual Welcome Week is happening September 10th - 20th, 2006.

  CK Welcome Week is an opportunity to showcase and celebrate the diversity of our community.

  Stay tuned to the CK Welcome Week website for events.

  
  

  Host an Event!

  Community groups and organizations are invited to host events or collaborate on initiatives that promote inclusion and belonging. Ideas for events or activities you could host during the week are below, though this list is not exhaustive:

  • an open house or networking event
  • volunteering opportunity
  • civic engagement
  • open book club, or storytelling event
  • sharing employee experiences
  • workshops or info sessions
  • cultural and/or artistic demonstrations
  • classes or interactive learning opportunities
  • sports, games or family-friendly activities
  • films or documentaries

  Please send the details of your event to cklip@chatham-kent.ca as soon as possible so that your event can be promoted on the CK Welcome Week website and social media.

  
  

  Participate in CK Welcomes: A Community Showcase

  The Community Attraction and Promotion department and the Chatham-Kent Local Immigration Partnership (CK LIP) invite groups to take part in CK Welcomes: A Community Showcase, on Sunday, September 20, 2026, from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm at Kingston Park in Chatham.

  This event is to help newcomers and international students feel at home in Chatham-Kent. We’re creating a vibrant, welcoming space where residents can connect, explore local opportunities, and discover ways to get involved in our community.

  Community groups, including sports and recreation clubs, ethno-cultural organizations, nonprofits, and special interest groups, are invited to host a booth at the event. It’s a fantastic opportunity to:

  • Promote your programs, services, and activities
  • Recruit new members or volunteers
  • Share upcoming events or initiatives
  • Connect with newcomers and expand your network

  Each participating group will be provided with a free 10 ft x 10 ft space to engage with attendees. You may choose either a spot under the pavilion (with a picnic table) or on the grass.

  The event will be widely promoted across Chatham-Kent through social media, local media, and community networks to ensure strong attendance.

  If you are interested in participating or have questions, please email Teresa Fysh at teresaf@chatham-kent.ca with the following information:

  Organization or Group Name

  • Contact Name
  • Phone Number
  • Email Address
  • A short description of your booth or services
  • Indicate you want space on the grass or under the pavilion with a picnic table

• Sept 12 - 13, 2026: Harvest Moon Pow Wow

  

  Dgwaagig Pii-maadoongeng Dibik Giizis

  "Harvest Moon Pow-Wow"

  September 12 and 13, 2026

  Highbanks Park, Bkejwanong Territory, Walpole Island

  
  

  For more information visit the Walpole Island First Nation website or the Dgwaagig Pii-maadoongeng Dibik Giizis Facebook Page.

  
  

  Learn more about Pow Wows and etiquette:

  A primer on Indigenous Pow Wows from Indigenous Corporate Training(External link)

  Indigenous Pow Wow Protocols from Indigenous Corporate Training(External link)

  Indigenous Pow Wow Dances from Indigenous Corporate Training(External link)

  Pow Wow Guide by Full Circle Indigenous(External link)

  
  

  Tips for Attending:

  Listen to the Master of Ceremonies/Emcee – they’ll explain what’s happeningContinue reading

  Dgwaagig Pii-maadoongeng Dibik Giizis

  "Harvest Moon Pow-Wow"

  September 12 and 13, 2026

  Highbanks Park, Bkejwanong Territory, Walpole Island

  
  

  For more information visit the Walpole Island First Nation website or the Dgwaagig Pii-maadoongeng Dibik Giizis Facebook Page.

  
  

  Learn more about Pow Wows and etiquette:

  A primer on Indigenous Pow Wows from Indigenous Corporate Training(External link)

  Indigenous Pow Wow Protocols from Indigenous Corporate Training(External link)

  Indigenous Pow Wow Dances from Indigenous Corporate Training(External link)

  Pow Wow Guide by Full Circle Indigenous(External link)

  
  

  Tips for Attending:

  Listen to the Master of Ceremonies/Emcee – they’ll explain what’s happening to help visitors.

  Ask permission before taking pictures of people. Generally, pictures are not allowed during Grand Entry but allowed at other times, but listen to the MC for instructions.

  Use the term 'Regalia' to describe what dancers are wearing.

  Don’t touch people’s Regalia without permission. They are not costumes and hold special meaning to dancers.

  Seats closest to the dancing circle are reserved for singers, dancers, and drummers.

  Respect that some sections set aside for those with mobility issues to sit with mobile chairs or walkers.

  Support the vendors. Some vendors may have interact or etransfer options, but please make sure you have cash on hand as well.

  Outdoor settings are sometimes uneven so watch your footing.

  Sometimes bleachers are available for people, but it never hurts to bring a chair with you.

  Leave pets at home.

  Don’t bring alcohol or drugs.

  Listen for 'Round' or 'Intertribal' dances - times where people of all Nations and without Regalia are usually welcome to join in.

  Have fun!

• Orange Shirt Day & National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (September 30)

  

  September 30th is Orange Shirt Day and National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Read on to learn about these days, local events, and how to learn more.

  
  

  About Orange Shirt Day

  The Orange Shirt Day movement was started by Phyllis Jack Webstad, a member of Stswecem'c Xgat'tem First Nation and Survivor of the residential school system (also called residential institutions).

  When Phllis was six years old and preparing to attend a residential institution, her grandmother bought her a new orange shirt. When she arrived, the shirt was taken from her. This experience became a symbol of the loss, mistreatment, andContinue reading

  September 30th is Orange Shirt Day and National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Read on to learn about these days, local events, and how to learn more.

  
  

  About Orange Shirt Day

  The Orange Shirt Day movement was started by Phyllis Jack Webstad, a member of Stswecem'c Xgat'tem First Nation and Survivor of the residential school system (also called residential institutions).

  When Phllis was six years old and preparing to attend a residential institution, her grandmother bought her a new orange shirt. When she arrived, the shirt was taken from her. This experience became a symbol of the loss, mistreatment, and lasting harm experienced by Indigenous children who were forced to attend residential institutions.

  Today, Orange Shirt Day is an Indigenous-led day of remembrance, reflection, and learning. It honours Survivors, the children who never returned home, and the families and communities affected by the residential school system. September 30 was chosen because it marks the time of year when many Indigenous children were taken from their families and communities and sent to residential institutions.

  Learn more about Orange Shirt Day through the Orange Shirt Society or by reading Phyllis's Orange Shirt.

  
  

  

  About National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

  National Day for Truth and Reconciliation became a federal statutory holiday in 2021 following a Call to Action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada.

  It is a day to learn about the truth about Canada's history, including the harms caused by residential institutions and other colonial policies. It is also a reminder that reconciliation is an ongoign responsibility. Through learning, relationship building, and meaningful action, each of us has a role to play in supporting healing, jusitce, and reconciliation.

  Learn more about the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Day on the Government of Canada website.

  
  

  Note: As part of learning 'truth', events and learning resources listed below may include discussions about residential institutions, colonization, racism, violence, loss, and intergenerational trauma. Please use discretion and take care of your wellbeing and access support if needed. Support resources are listed below.

  
  

  Local Events

  Events and descriptions will be updated as more information becomes available. To add an event, contact DEIJ@chatham-kent.ca

  Note: Events may include discussions about residential institutions, colonization, racism, violence, loss, and intergenerational trauma. Please take care of your wellbeing and access support if needed. Support resources are listed below.

  Wear orange and join events below to listen, learn, reflect, and consider how each of us can support healing, justice, and reconciliation in our communities.

  All events are free and open to everyone.

  Monday, September 28, 2026, 12:00 p.m.

  Survivor's Flag Raising & Information Booths

  Chatham Civic Centre, 315 King Street West, Chatham

  Partnership with Maawnjidimi Indigenous Network, Ska:Na Family Learning Centre, 7 Generations Indigenous Cultural Friendship Centre, and the Municipality of Chatham-Kent.

  
  

  Monday, September 28, 2026, 12:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

  Meet & Greet and Networking

  Deshkan Ziibi, 495 King Street West, Chatham

  Following the flag raising, join Maawnjidimi Indigenous Network, Ska:Na Family Learning Centre, 7 Generations Indigenous Cultural Friendship Centre, and partners for refreshments and networking.

  
  

  
  

  
  

  Wednesday, September 30, 2026, 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

  5th annual Healing Walk & Gathering

  Wallaceburg

  Join a meaningful walk and gathering to honour local Survivors of residential institutions. Walk begins at Wallaceburg Library and ends at Civic Square Park for the gathering. Please feel free to bring lawn chairs. Partnership between Walpole Island Employment & Training and the Municipality of Chatham-Kent.

  
  

  Wednesday, September 30, 2026, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.

  Screening of Meadowlarks

  Chatham Capitol Theatre

  Inspired by true events, Meadowlarks follows four Cree siblings who were separated as children through Canada’s Sixties Scoop and reunite for the first time as adults. Over the course of a weekend in Banff, they confront their pasts, explore their identities, and begin a journey toward healing, understanding, and family connection. This moving Canadian drama offers a powerful story of resilience, reconciliation, and hope. Sponsored by the Municipality of Chatham-Kent's Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice team and Chatham-Kent Film Group.

  
  

  Continue Learning

  Can't attend an event in person? There are many ways to learn on September 30 and throughout the year. Listen to Survivors, explore Indigenous voices and perspectives, and deepen your understanding of the history and ongoing impacts of residential institutions and colonization.

  
  

  Listen:

  A Day to Listen (September 30th)

  Tune in to your favourite local radio station to learn about moving reconciliation forward in meaningful ways. Learn more from the Downie & Wenjack Fund website.

  Unreserved

  A CBC radio space for Indigenous voices. Host Rosanne Deerchild guides listeners on the path to better understand our shared story. Together, we learn and unlearn, laugh and become gentler in all our relations.

  
  

  Watch:

  Truth and Reconciliation Commission Daily Lunch and Learns - September 21 - 25, 1:00 - 2:00p.m.

  Join daily Lunch and Learn webinars – an immersive experience to UN-learn the myths of colonial history in Canada. Aimed at an adult audience, and open to the public. Hosted virtually over Zoom Webinar and streamed to YouTube. Includes simultaneous English-French, and ASL interpretation. Presented with the gracious support of Enbridge and the Canadian Public Health Association.

  Remembering the Children: Live Event Broadcast - September 30, 12:00 p.m.

  Watch the national event at Parliament Hill. Watch and learn more on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission website.

  Orange Shirt Day

  Learn about the origins of Orange Shirt Day through this Youtube video by the Orange Shirt Society.

  We Are Still Here and Aftershock Documentaries

  Three local women from Aamjiwnaang First Nation in Sarnia, and the Bjekwanong First Nation on Walpole Island, share their memories of surviving residential institutions in this YouTube Video. Then, watch Aftershock, a documentary that features the children of the women in We Are Still Here.

  The Secret Path

  Animated film adaptation of Gord Downie's album and Jeff Lemire's graphic novel about the life of Chanie Wenjack.

  Kevin Lamoureux on Truth and Reconciliation

  Kevin Lamoureux, the Associate Vice-President of Indigenous Affairs at the University of Winnipeg, speaks about Truth and Reconciliation at a TEDx event in this YouTube clip.

  The Sixties Scoop in Canada

  A CBC video on YouTube about how Canada took thousands of Indigenous children from their parents between the 1960s and the 1980s, and how the effects are still being felt today.

  Dr. Maureen Lux on the Painful History of Indian hospitals

  An APTN video on YouTube about the history of 'Indian' hospitals in Canada.

  
  

  Read:

  Residential Schools Timeline

  A visual timeline of residential institutions in Canada. Find it on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission website.

  The Witness Blank

  Explore items reclaimed from residential institutions, churches, government buildings accompanied by the voices of Survivors. Visit The Witness Blanket website.

  The dark history of Canada's Food Guide: How experiments on Indigenous children shaped nutrition policy

  A CBC article and recording in which Unreserved host Roseanne Deerchild explores how nutritional studies and experiments were performed in Indigenous communities and residential schools in the 1940s and '50s.

  The Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action

  Drafted from consultations with residential institution survivors and family members across Canada. Recommendations are directed at individuals, organizations, and all levels of government. Read the Calls to Action on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission website.

  21 Things You May Not Have Known About the Indian Act

  An article from Indigenous Corporate Training Inc. about the Indian Act in Canada.

  CK Road to Understanding Indigenous Cultures

  Learn about local First Nations, relationships with government, and Treaties. Find the resource on the Living CK website. Hard copies of this resource are available by contacting us.

  CK Public Library Resources

  Visit the CKPL website to find books and other resources to learn about our shared past and how we can move towards healing, justice, and reconciliation.

  
  

  Supports

  You are not alone. Support is available.

  If learning about residential institutions and the impacts of colonization bring up difficult emotions, consider reaching out to family, friends, Elders, community supports, or professional services. The following resources are available 24 hours a day:

  Hope for Wellness Help Line offers immediate help 24/7 to all Indigenous Peoples in Canada. 1-855-242-3310 (toll free) or online chat www.hopeforwellness.ca

  National Residential School Crisis Line provides 24/7 crisis support to former Residential School students and their families. 1-866-925-4419 (toll free)

• Get Connected to a Family Doctor or Nurse Practitioner

  

  Health Care Connect makes it easy to find a family doctor or nurse practitioner in your area.
  
  𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗶𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀
  1. Call or register online
  2. A care connector (a Health Care Connect nurse) looks for a family doctor or primary care nurse practitioner in your community
  3. You are contacted when a match is found
  
  Register today, call 811 (available 24/7) or visit ontario.ca/healthcareconnect

  
  

  

  Health Care Connect makes it easy to find a family doctor or nurse practitioner in your area.
  
  𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗶𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀
  1. Call or register online
  2. A care connector (a Health Care Connect nurse) looks for a family doctor or primary care nurse practitioner in your community
  3. You are contacted when a match is found
  
  Register today, call 811 (available 24/7) or visit ontario.ca/healthcareconnect

  
  

  

• Resource: Free Online English Classes for People who are Migrant Workers

  Collège Boréal is providing free, online English classes with a live instructor for people who are Migrant Workers in Chatham-Kent. Reach out to Azuani Cano, 519-384-9393, acano@dol.ca or Jiohanka Perez, 519-397-1677, jiohanka.perez@collegeboreal.ca for more information and to register.

  
  

  

  
  

  Don't forget to subscribe to the CK Local Immigration Partnership newsletter for more updates like these!

  Collège Boréal is providing free, online English classes with a live instructor for people who are Migrant Workers in Chatham-Kent. Reach out to Azuani Cano, 519-384-9393, acano@dol.ca or Jiohanka Perez, 519-397-1677, jiohanka.perez@collegeboreal.ca for more information and to register.

  
  

  

  
  

  Don't forget to subscribe to the CK Local Immigration Partnership newsletter for more updates like these!

• International Overdose Awareness Day 2026

  

  CK Public Health, Reach Out Chatham-Kent, and the Community Drug Strategy invite you to join in honouring International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD) 2026. Each year in August partners come together to remember individuals whose lives were cut short by preventable drug toxicities, and to re-imagine how we can co-create a safe, caring, and inclusive future for our community. This year, our theme is Every Story. Every Path. Every Life Matters.

  
  

  Here are some ways you can take action:
  
  

  • Attend the online learning session on Tuesday August 25^th 12-1pm to learn from renowned Nursing Leader, Parent Advocate, and MomsContinue reading

  CK Public Health, Reach Out Chatham-Kent, and the Community Drug Strategy invite you to join in honouring International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD) 2026. Each year in August partners come together to remember individuals whose lives were cut short by preventable drug toxicities, and to re-imagine how we can co-create a safe, caring, and inclusive future for our community. This year, our theme is Every Story. Every Path. Every Life Matters.

  
  

  Here are some ways you can take action:
  
  

  • Attend the online learning session on Tuesday August 25^th 12-1pm to learn from renowned Nursing Leader, Parent Advocate, and Moms Stop The Harm Champion, Kathy Moreland. Kathy will share her lived experience journey as a mother who lost her 18-year-old son, Austin, to fentanyl toxicity. Email jordynne.linsday@ckoht.ca to register
    
    

  • Attend the in-person memorial gathering on Wednesday August 26^th anytime from 3-6pm at 39 Richmond St., Chatham.
    • OR drop-in on Thursday August 27^th 4-7pm at 233 Nelson St. in Wallaceburg.
    • Food and refreshments, music, art, and resources will be provided. All are welcome.
      
      

  • Use person-first, non-stigmatizing language to support individuals to seek help, provide equitable substance use health services, and encourage unbiased, effective policy. Research shows the words we use shape the care people who use substances receive and the opportunities available to them.
    
    

  • Carry a Naloxone kit and learn how to respond to an acute drug toxicity.
    
    

  • Learn more about substance use stigma and drug policy in Canada. Share what you learn with others in your circles.
    
    

  • Plan a Compassionate Approaches training for your team/organization to learn with and from People With Lived and Living Expertise.
    
    

  • Advocate for evidence-based solutions to the drug toxicity crisis such as early prevention, voluntary treatment, harm reduction, and supportive housing.
    
    

  • Wear purple on August 31^st to show your support.