In this session, Cree Knowledge Keeper Marilyn Dykstra invites visitors who have completed the two years of Full Moon teachings to rejoin again to continue their commitment.

During this New Moon, we practise thankfulness for our health and the healing that the creature teachers provide us. As our feather fans brush past us, they take away things that no longer serve us. They also uplift us by bringing the wind of our ancestors, who guide us towards our path.

We will begin our community program that focuses on the ribbons that interweave us within Wahkowtowin. Ribbon clothing connects humans to their ancestors who dreamt of their descendants’ success. As we bring those ancestral stitches forward in our thankfulness practice, we will transmit the sacred Ininew teachings.

Join us for a potluck after the gathering to practise our gratitude for each other and the gifts we have received from the earth.

Special Note

Special note: There will be smudging smoke present during the event.

Plates, cups, cutlery and traditional tea will be provided. Please do not bring food containing nuts or pork.

Method of teaching

The method of teaching will utilize Indigenous pedagogy as well as incorporate traditional tea and burning traditional medicines. Participants will discover their relatedness and interconnection with human rights and balance.

This workshop is part of a monthly Wahkowtowin and Ways of Being series led by knowledge keeper Marilyn Dykstra. Each month, we will explore a variety of moon, pole and tea teachings in the Inninewak (Cree) tradition.

Wahkowtowin – which translates to kinship – highlights how relationships, communities and the natural world are all interconnected.

Participants will discover and reflect on their connections with each other, with balance and with human rights through teachings and a traditional tea.

Traditional helper Peyton will support the teachings while she continues her learning journey within Wahkowtowin.

Marilyn Dykstra

Marilyn Dykstra is a status Bill C31 First Nations woman from northern Manitoba. She has been immersed in a working matriarchal system that practised Indigenous ways of thinking and being since she was born. Alongside her family, she has participated in many peaceful social justice movements.

Marilyn uses her matriarchal knowledge as a foundation for her work in the Indigenous community, which has been ongoing for over thirty years. She still follows her matriarchal teachings, but she has also spent her life learning traditional knowledge and passing the teachings on.

She is a pow wow dancer and knowledge keeper, and she carries the responsibility of a bundle. She happily participates in naming ceremonies, sweats, pipe ceremonies, moon teachings and more.