Preparations were underway in Selkirk, Man., on Saturday in advance of a land-based healing gathering later this week, as dozens of people worked to harvest teepee poles. The gathering will take place Tuesday at the Selkirk Friendship Centre.
Organizer Jeannie White Bird, who has named the event Aki Nindoondawaa — meaning "I heard it from the land" — says it aims to break down gender barriers in healing activities by bringing together people who identify in all different ways. "We just want to focus on just breaking down those barriers," said White Bird. "Not saying, 'Men, women' — how about masculine energy, feminine energy, and just like beautiful energy?" White Bird recently went out with a group of men healing from sexual trauma to cut down poles for a teepee in preparation for Tuesday's event.
When they were doing so, some young girls in the area were curious and said they wanted to take part. So on Saturday, a group of men and women cut down poles for another teepee. Elder Carol Settinger was out to support the group on Saturday and said the young people who participated gained valuable hands-on learning.
"This is where they're really learning ...
when they're actively involved in the participation of the culture," Settinger said. "This is where the learning will take place, with caring people and in an environment where everyone is included." She added, "We're not excluding people by how they identify, but we want to embrace their differences and bring them in an.