Join local Urban Indigenous communities and Service Providers in honour of National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit People (Red Dress Day). See flyer for details.

Friday, May 5th, 7-8PM. Deshkan Ziibi Indigenous Hub, 496 King Street, from 7-8. Event will be outside.

There will be prayer, smudging, hand drumming, and guest speakers.

You will see red dresses hung to represent the women and girls who have are missing or have been murdered.

Please feel free to share with others, this event is open to everyone.

About The National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Kin:

Also called Red Dress Day, the day honours and brings awareness to the disproportionate violence that Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two Spirit people face in Canada. Bkejwanong Territory have chosen to use the work Kin to be inclusive.

The red dress was inspired by Métis artist Jaime Black’s REDress Project, in which she hung empty, red dresses to represent the missing and murdered women.

The National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Women found that, in Canada:

• Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two Spirit people are 12x more likely to go missing or be murdered than all other women, and 16x more likely than Caucasian women.
• In the last 30 years, more than 4000 Indigenous Women, Girls and Two Spirit people have gone missing or been murdered. That’s about 133 a year or 3 a week.
• Because of persistent forms of oppression (racism, colonialism, homophobia, transphobia, sexism), complaints about missing Indigenous Women, Girls, and Women, are less likely to be taken seriously or followed up.

The National Inquiry led to 231 Calls for Justice directed at governments, institutions, social service providers, industries, and all Canadians.

To learn more:

Read the final report and Calls for Justice from the MMIWG National Inquiry on the National Inquiry website

Visit the National Family and Survivors Circle website

Visit the Amnesty International No More Stolen Sisters website

Find book, video and podcast recommendations on Simon Fraser University’s website.

Supports:

This day may be triggering for some people. Help is available.

National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls toll-free support phone line (24/7) 1-844-413-6649

Hope for Wellness Help Line (24/7) 1-855-242-3310

On May 20-21, Bkejwanong Territory is hosting it's Annual Spring Pow-Wow, M'nookmig Jiingtamook (Ojibwe). The event is open to everyone and free for the general public to attend.

Tips for people attending are below the poster.

About:

Pow-Wow gatherings are a spiritual and social gathering where people come together to dance, sing, heal, meet old friends, and make new ones. It’s a time to celebrate and reconnect with each other and Mother Earth.

Tips:

Listen to the Master of Ceremonies – they’ll explain protocol to help visitors.

Ask permission before taking pictures.

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

Feathers are sacred – if one falls, do not pick it up. Leave it where it is.

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

Bring a chair with you.

Do not bring alcohol or drugs.

Outdoor settings are sometimes uneven so watch your footing.

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

Sometimes bleachers are available for people to watch the gathering.

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

Sometimes specials can include placing a blanket on the ground for generous donations by visitors.

Intertribal dances are for all people present to partake in the dance.

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

Security is provided for parking lot areas.

Ambulance and police are present.

Enjoy all the vendors and have fun

Two of our Municipal groups are recruiting volunteer members with the intention of including people from various communities, with varying perspectives, and experiences. Please share with folks who may be interested. These Committees are a great way to network, understand some of the work that the Municipality does, and contribute to the community.

The Chatham-Kent Food Policy Council

Accepting applications until April 28th. Learn about the Council at the Chatham-Kent Food Policy website.

Together CK Grants Committee

Applications open until May 5th. Learn about the Committee and apply on Let's Talk CK.

The Muslim Students of Chatham-Kent present a celebration in honour of Eid Ul-Fitr. April 29, 2023, 3:30-6:30PM at Kingston Park. Open for all. Join the group for burgers, refreshments, fun, and games. Speaker is Imam Bakhtiyar.

Contact Imam Bakhtiyar 647-893-9322 or Br. Ishraq 519-350-3136 to volunteer or to help sponsor.

Please wear red, come out and support Bkejwanong Territory (Walpole Island First Nation) and honour National Day for Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two Spirit people.

Please feel free to share with others, this event is open to everyone.

About The National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Kin:

Also called Red Dress Day, the day honours and brings awareness to the disproportionate violence that Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two Spirit people face in Canada. Bkejwanong Territory have chosen to use the work Kin to be inclusive.

The red dress was inspired by Métis artist Jaime Black’s REDress Project, in which she hung empty, red dresses to represent the missing and murdered women.

The National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Women found that, in Canada:

• Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two Spirit people are 12x more likely to go missing or be murdered than all other women, and 16x more likely than Caucasian women.
• In the last 30 years, more than 4000 Indigenous Women, Girls and Two Spirit people have gone missing or been murdered. That’s about 133 a year or 3 a week.
• Because of persistent forms of oppression (racism, colonialism, homophobia, transphobia, sexism), complaints about missing Indigenous Women, Girls, and Women, are less likely to be taken seriously or followed up.

The National Inquiry led to 231 Calls for Justice directed at governments, institutions, social service providers, industries, and all Canadians.

To learn more:

Read the final report and Calls for Justice from the MMIWG National Inquiry on the National Inquiry website

Visit the National Family and Survivors Circle website

Visit the Amnesty International No More Stolen Sisters website

Find book, video and podcast recommendations on Simon Fraser University’s website.

Supports:

This day may be triggering for some people. Help is available.

National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls toll-free support phone line (24/7) 1-844-413-6649

Hope for Wellness Help Line (24/7) 1-855-242-3310

The Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice (DEIJ) Team are presenting to Council this evening.

The DEIJ Team has prepared a DEIJ Strategy Update Report which can be found on the Municipal website.

To watch CK Council meeting coverage, please visit YourTV's website.

For any questions or comments, you can email DEIJ@chatham-kent.ca

What is Food Insecurity?

(Chatham-Kent Public Health, 2022)

Food Insecurity in Chatham-Kent

A report on Food Insecurity in Chatham-Kent, was presented to the Chatham-Kent Board of Health. To access this report and learn more, visit Important Documents on the DEIJ portal.

An infographic on The Cost of Eating in Chatham-Kent was also released and can be found in this post below.

If you are looking for more information on Food Insecurity in Chatham-Kent, please connect with Sharmini Balakrishnan, a Public Health Nutritionist with CK Public Health:

Sharmini Balakrishnan
Phone Number: 519.352.7270 Ext.2496

Email: sharminib@chatham-kent.ca

Mars est le mois international de la francophonie! Pour marquer l'occasion, votre centre communautaire francophone, La Girouette, vous présente différentes activités jusqu'au 31 mars.

Films de l'ONF - entrée gratuite

• Le mercredi 8 mars à 19 h 30 - Programme double : Ça donne envie de chanter et Ça fait jaser!

Dans le premier programme, huit courts métrages offrent un riche tour d'horizon de la chanson francophone au Canada. Dans le second programme, Éloge du chiac - partie 2 explore l'importance identitaire du chiac, parlé au sud-est du Nouveau-Brunswick.

• Le mercredi 15 mars à 19 h 30 - Programme double : Ça donne la bougeotte! et Ça éveille la curiosité!

Le premier programme présente six courts métrages d'animation vifs et colorés qui donnent envie de bouger. Le deuxième programme présenter la websérie d'animation La liste des choses qui existent, un voyage à travers l'histoire pour démystifier l'origine de certaines choses.

• Le mercredi 22 mars à 19 h 30 - Documentaire : Ça se révèle

Dans son long métrage documentaire L'Ordre secret, Phil Comeau fait toute la lumière sur l'Ordre de Jacques-Cartier, une vaste confrérie qui, de 1926 à 1965, a infiltré tous les secteurs de la société canadienne.

Soirée ÉSPC à La Girouette

• Le jeudi 9 mars de 17 h à 19 h - Bricolage / Activités / Collation

Ouvert à tous / Gratuit

Cours de vitrail

• Les samedi et dimanche 25 et 26 mars de 12 h à 17 h

Vous avez toujours été intrigué par le vitrail? Venez apprendre les techniques de base et créer votre première œuvre.

Ou au contraire, vous êtes maintenant prêt à créer une œuvre plus complexe? L'enseignant vous montrera d'autres techniques, telles que la fusion.

Coût : Pour les nouveaux : 150 $ (au lieu de 250 $), TVH comprise
Pour les initiés : 200 $ (au lieu de 300 $), TVH comprise

Inscription au plus tard le 18 mars à cclagirouette@gmail.com.

Rencontre sociale style 5 à 7 avec jeux

• Le vendredi 31 mars à compter de 17 h

Venez vous détendre après le travail et socialiser en français. Venez jouer à une partie de cartes, de rummy, de billard, etc.

Souper optionnel : 5 $ par personne

Les classes d'exercices pour les aînés se poursuivent tous les mardis matins à 9 h 30 et les jeudis après-midis à 14 h.

Les classes d'Essentrics se poursuivent également tous les mercredis soirs à 18 h, à l'exception du 29 mars, où la classe fera relâche. 5 $ par soir.

Pour terminer, en avril, nous présenterons un cours de secourisme général avec réanimation cardiorespiratoire de niveau C. Voir l'affiche ci-dessous.

You are invited to the Chatham Islamic Centre (310 McNaughton Ave. West Chatham) this Saturday & Sunday, March 4th and 5th from 2 - 6 pm for the Halal Ahlan Bazaar! Enjoy clothing, jewellery, food, sweets and learning about the cultures of people who practice Islam.

Contact Maha Muhareb for more information or questions: 519-359-4024

Learn more about the Chatham Islamic Centre here: https://www.chatham-kent.ca/.../Chatham-Islamic-Centre.aspx