Treaties, Culture, History and Emerging Issues: Saugeen Ojibway Nation and Turtle Island

Sept 11 - Oct 16, 2025

Image of "Ajiijak (Crane)" used with the kind permission of the artist, Charmaine Jenner (Tauchkwe) of Neyaashiinigmiig. More details here.

Join us for a compelling lecture series exploring the deep history, cultural practices, and important cases of the Saugeen Ojibway Nation and Turtle Island. Presented from an Anishinaabe perspective, this series will delve into key topics such as the history of Turtle Island, Anishinaabe Law, Land and Natural World, the power of storytelling and the written word, the significance of tobacco prayers, and the impact of treaties and landmark legal cases. Through these lectures we have the opportunity to learn about our neighbours' history and consider pathways for moving forward together in the spirit of respect, learning, and reconciliation. 

 

6 lectures, live at the Bayshore Centre and online on Vimeo

Thursday mornings 10 a.m. - 12 a.m.
Replays until Nov 16 on Vimeo 

PURCHASE TICKETS   (Available in early August, 2025)

 

Thursday Sept 11, 2025 

Opening Ceremony and Lecture:  The History of Settlers in Canada from an Anishinaabe Perspective 

Opening Ceremony  10 AM - 10:15 AM

We begin this lecture series with an Opening Ceremony led by Shirley John (aka Strong White Buffalo Woman), a respected Elder from Saugeen First Nation. Through a brief Anishinaabe ceremony and teachings, Shirley will offer drumming/singing and a prayer-blessing to ground us in the spirit of respect, connection, and gratitude.

Lecture 10:15 AM - noon

Using the 7 Fires Prophecy as a timeline, Trish will take you on a journey from creation to present day.  Topics will include wampum, treaties, wars, residential school to the sixties scoop and our present day child welfare system.  You will hear personal stories from Trish, as she explains the impacts of these events from the crown and Canadian government.  You'll be encouraged to think about pathways to reconciliation through a more accurate historical lens.  Trish is the grand daughter of Wilmer Nadjiwon, and carries the same passion for the First Nations peoples of Turtle Island.

Lecturer - Trish Meekins

Trish Nadjiwon Meekins is an Anishnaabe woman from Chippewas of Nawash, known as Neyaashiinigmiing, and a member of the Saugeen Ojibway Nation.  Trish has been a therapist and a teacher of First Nations history for over 30 years, currently has a private practice in downtown Owen Sound and recently opened a retail store called All My Relations Gift Shop, providing gifts of/for healing.  Trish holds a masters in social work based in Indigenous Knowledge from Wilfrid Laurier University.  A wholistic practitioner, with a focus on the spirit, Trish has been assisting people, using a variety of methodologies.

Trishmeekins.com

 

Thursday, Sept 18, 2025

Anishinaabe Law, Land and Natural World

Anishinaabe peoples are not the land’s first inhabitants. Plants, fish, insects, birds, and animals were already following well-established patterns regulating life in the waters and lands. To survive, Anishinaabe peoples had to accommodate ourselves to these pre-existing processes. These activities took many forms, including ceremonies acknowledging and petitioning the plants, fish, insects, birds, animals and other beings to favour, teach, and feed them, in return for promises made by Anishinaabe people to honour them in various ways. Agreements with the more-than-human world eventually spread to the Anishinaabe’s neighbours such as the Wendat and Haudenosaunee. When Europeans arrived, the Anishinaabe did not relinquish these views. Georgian Bay’s more-than-human presence continues to teach us about these agreements. They can be revitalized and harmonized with subsequent treaties with the Crown.

Lecturer -  Dr. John Borrows

John Borrows B.A., M.A., J.D., LL.M. (Toronto), Ph.D. (Osgoode Hall Law School), LL.D. (Hons., Dalhousie, York, SFU, Queen’s & Law Society of Ontario), D.H.L, (Hons., Toronto), D.Litt. (Hons., Waterloo), F.R.S.C., O.C., is the Loveland Chair in Indigenous Law at the University of Toronto Law School. He is the 2017 Killam Prize winner in Social Sciences and the 2019 Molson Prize Winner from the Canada Council for the Arts, the 2020 Governor General’s Innovation Award. He was appointed as an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2020. John is a member of the Chippewa of the Nawash First Nation.

https://www.uvic.ca/law/facultystaff/facultydirectory/borrows.php

 

Thursday, Sept 25, 2025

Anishinaabek Storytelling – Oral Tradition and Publishing

This lecture is about Anishinaabek storytelling – oral tradition and publishing through the experiences of Lenore Keeshig, a traditional storyteller and poet (Running on the March Wind 2015), and Kateri Akiwenzie-Damm, author (The Stone Collection 2015), recording artist (A Constellation of Bones) and publisher (Kegedonce Press). Lenore and Kateri will highlight key events, insights and innovative changes over a 65-year span as Indigenous writers in Canada struggled to have their art recognized and measured against the storytelling traditions of Indigenous peoples in North American, and not the Euro-Canadian backdrop of “English literature.” This lecture is an opportunity to break down barriers, learn what’s real and what’s imagined in Indigenous literatures and oral traditions as these two activists guide you toward reconciliation through Indigenous storytelling and literature.

Lecturers -    Lenore Keeshig and Kateri Akiwenzie-Damm

Lenore Keeshig (Anungo-kwe – Star Woman) is Wolf Clan, a traditional Anishinaabe storyteller from Neyaashiinigmiing. For over 23-years, Lenore has provided land-based education highlighting the natural and cultural history of the Saugeen/Bruce Peninsula from an Anishinaabe perspective. Lenore has connected traditional Anishinaabek stories to current geologic research; taught Native Studies at George Brown College; worked as a journalist for Ontario Indian magazine; and authored four children’s books. She also advocated for the right of Indigenous authors to tell their own stories and spoke out against “cultural appropriation.” Her poetry, Running on the March Wind was published by Quattro Press.

http://quattrobooks.ca/authors/lenore-keeshig/

 

Kateri Akiwenzie-Damm is from the Saugeen Ojibway Nation, Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation in Ontario. Kateri is a writer, poet, spoken word artist, publisher, Indigenous arts activist, former Owen Sound and North Grey Poet Laureate, and Assistant Professor, Creative Writing, Indigenous Literatures and Oral Traditions at University of Toronto, Scarborough. Her major publications include a collection of short stories, The Stone Collection, radio plays, libretti, a graphic novel, Nimkii, spoken word albums, Standing Ground and A Constellation of Bones, a chapbook, bloodriver woman, and the collections of poetry, my heart is a stray bullet and (Re)Generation: The Poetry of Kateri Akiwenzie-Damm. Kateri’s poem restitution OR Nanabush speaks to the settlers was a finalist for the 2023 CBC Poetry Prize.
https://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/engdept/person/kateri-akiwenzie-damm

 

Thursday, Oct 2, 2025

Our Tobacco Prayers

This engagement is intended to provide a clear understanding of tobacco's importance and function within First Nation traditions and culture.

The origin of tobacco will be illustrated through the First Nation Creation Story.

The Creator provided, gifted, each colour of man something; it would ensure that he would always know what is on their minds and in their hearts as they walked along the pathway of life. To Anishinaabe he gifted tobacco.

This gift was presented with instruction and came with a promise.

If you could ask the Creator one question, how would you do it and what would it be?

Lecturer -    Karl Keeshig 

 

Thursday, Oct 9, 2025

Treaties, Important Cases and Reconciliation

Saugeen First Nation and the Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation, collectively the Saugeen Ojibway Nation, launched court claims against Canada and Ontario almost 30 years ago: an Aboriginal title claim to parts of Lake Huron and Georgian Bay, and a claim that the Crown breached its treaty promise to protect the Saugeen (Bruce) Peninsula for the Saugeen Ojibway forever. This lecture will focus on the history of those claims, what the courts have decided and where these claims are now in the Canadian legal process.

Lecturer -   Cathy Guirguis

I am a lawyer at OKT Law, a firm that is dedicated to working for Indigenous Nations and organizations across Canada. I have worked for  the Saugeen Ojibway Nation for almost 15 years, and as their legal counsel, I’ve had the privilege of working on their claims making their way through the Canadian legal system. 

 https://www.oktlaw.com/team-members/cathy-guirguis/

Reconciliation: Re-affirming the First Nation/Crown Relationship

There is perhaps nothing more important than reconciling the First Nation/Crown relationship.  As treaty people, we all have a role to play in reconciling this relationship to not only achieve justice for First Nations but to ensure we never repeat the mistakes of the past.  We must focus on action and real change.  This starts with first reaffirming the First Nation/Crown relationship.  It is imperative that Canadians understand treaties and have an appreciation for the Crown's commitments and obligations. We will explore a brief history of the treaties between the Saugeen Ojibway Nation and the Crown and the efforts the Crown and Canada made to marginalize and keep the Saugeen people confined to their reserves through the imposition of the Indian Act and assimilationist policies designed to strip First Nations of their identity.  True reconciliation can only happen when we acknowledge this history and take the necessary steps to reaffirm our original relationship with First Nations.

Lecturer -   Randall Kahgee

Randall is Senior Counsel with Olthuis Kleer Townshend and specializes in Indigenous Rights law.  He served as Chief of the Saugeen First Nation from June 2006 to June 2014.  He has worked with First Nation governments across Canada and participated in agreements between First Nations and government on energy matters.  He has extensive experience in consultation and accommodation, has been involved in the negotiation and implementation of modern treaties, and participated in impact benefit negotiations. He also advises First Nations on governance related issues.  Randall received his BA (Hon) from York University and his LLB from the University of Toronto.

https://www.oktlaw.com/team-members/randall-kahgee/

Thursday, Oct 16, 2025

Reconciliation and the Economic Front

Greg believes that true reconciliation must be based with economic conversations being included at the decision-making table as a voice, so that economic prosperity includes Indigenous communities. His lecture on reconciliation will include a historic overview on economics and Indigenous communities, and examples of an awakening to a new approach with existing partnerships with corporations doing business in our homeland. Being persistent for inclusion will promote a brighter future for his people.  A brighter future and a solid financial foundation will allow for self determination and true reconciliation.

Lecturer - Greg Nadjiwon