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  • turtle in medicine wheel with text, national indigenous history month

    Friday Jun 16, 2023 at 2:00pm
    60 minutes

    A powwow is a gathering to celebrate First Nations culture through dance, songs, food and crafts, and is open to all. This high-intensity workout will incorporate powwow dance steps from different styles of powwow dance and the sounds of contemporary and traditional powwow music into a simple, follow-along workout. 

    Max registration: 30

    Amanda Fox is Ojibwe from Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory on Manitoulin Island, and is based in Ottawa, Ontario. Amanda is a jingle dress dancer, singer, drummer, beadwork artist, sewing artist, powwow workout instructor, and workshop facilitator.  She started dancing as soon as she could walk and has a profound knowledge in powwow dance and protocols.  She started offering powwow workouts as a way to share her culture while promoting physical health. 

    St Laurent Branch, 515 Côté

    Friday June 16, 2 pm

    In person program: 45 mins with 15 mins Q&A.

     All ages welcomed

  • turtle in medicine wheel

    Saturday Jun 17, 2023 at 11:00am
    60 minutes

    Participants are introduced to traditional Métis jigging, learning the basic steps before engaging in dances including the “Red River Jig”, “Heel-Toe Polka”, “Orange Blossom Special”, and a group dance called the “7 step”. The artist begins with the basics of the dance while discussing Métis culture and history from the fur trade to today.

    Max participants: 30

    Brad Lafortune is Métis originally from Sudbury, Ontario. Brad began jigging at a young age and started providing workshops and performances in 2009 upon moving to Ottawa. Brad studied at the University of Ottawa where he received his Bachelor of Science followed by a Master’s of Physiotherapy. Brad enjoys combining his passion for physical activity and wellbeing with a deep love and understanding of his culture. Brad believes jigging is an interactive way to physically engage individuals of any age, all the while learning about the intricacies of Métis culture.

    Les participants sont initiés à la gigue métisse traditionnelle. Ils apprennent les pas de danse de la gigue de la rivière Rouge, du Polka Talon-Orteil, du «Orange Blossom Special» et d’une danse de groupe appelée Le 7 pas. L’artiste explique les bases de chaque danse tout en discutant la culture et l’histoire métisse de la traite de fourrure à aujourd’hui.

    Nombre de participants: 30

    Brad Lafortune est un Métis originaire de Sudbury, en Ontario. Brad a commencé à faire de la gigue dès son jeune âge et a commencé à offrir des ateliers et des spectacles en 2009 après s’être établi à Ottawa. Brad a étudié à l’Université d’Ottawa où il a obtenu un baccalauréat en sciences suivi d’une maîtrise en physiothérapie. Brad aime combiner sa passion pour l’activité physique et le bien-être avec un amour profond et une compréhension de sa culture. Brad croit que la gigue est un moyen interactif de faire participer physiquement les gens de tous âges, en se familiarisant avec les complexités de la culture métisse.

  • Tuesday Jun 20, 2023 at 1:30pm
    60 minutes

    Cover to Cover - Book Club

    Book club for adults that love to share a good book!

    Please register online (each date individually) and pick up your copy of the book about a month before the meeting date at the main desk of the Cumberland Branch.

    These are the next books:

    An American Marriage by Tayari Jones - March 28, 2023

    The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George - April 25, 2023

    A Town Called Solace by Mary Lawson - May 23, 2023

    One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle - June 20, 2023

  • Monday Jun 26, 2023 at 6:00pm
    60 minutes

    Join us virtually for an unforgettable evening of spoken word as Two-Spirit poet Tawahum Bige invites us to embrace the multiplicity of our identities, challenge the status quo, and reimagine a world where the intersection of queer and indigenous experiences takes center stage.

    Tawahum Bige is a Łutselkʼe Dene, Plains Cree poet and spoken word artist from unceded Musqueam, Squamish & Tsleil-waututh Territory (Vancouver). Their Scorpio-moon-ass poems expose growth, resistance & persistence as a hopeless Two Spirit Nonbinary sadboy on occupied Turtle Island. With a BA in Creative Writing from KPU, Tawahum has performed at countless festivals with poems featured in numerous publications. His land protection work versus Trans Mountain pipeline expansion had him face incarceration in 2020. Tawahum’s debut collection of poetry is set for Spring 2022, published by Nightwood Editions. Find him online @Tawahum on Instagram, twitter and more.

  • Friday Jun 09, 2023 at 1:30pm
    120 minutes

    Adults are invited to learn the basics of Zentangle.  Zentangle is a form of art that involves drawing patterns, and it can help improve your focus and creativity.  Supplies and instruction are provided.  All skill levels are welcome!  

    Registration required

  • Saturday Jun 10, 2023 at 10:00am
    120 minutes

    Interested in playing D&D?  Then join us on May 20 and 27 as well June 3 and 10 for a D&D adventure.  Dungeons and Dragons is a fantasy role playing game in which your characters explore the world, solve puzzles and fight monsters. For ages 13-17.  Spaces limited.

  • Saturday Jun 10, 2023 at 2:00pm
    120 minutes

    Participants will work with raw genuine natural materials such as sinew, rawhide, and wood to create their own rattle. While participants are working on sewing up, wrapping and filling their rattles. Aurora will discuss the history of rattles and how-to sources materials for rattles in a sustainable and respectful way. At the end of this workshop, each participant will have their own rattle with their desired tone as well as knowledge on how Indigenous peoples harvest raw materials while conserving natural resources such as wood and deer.

    Registration Required. Ages 13-18.

    Meet Aurora Jade:

    Aurora Jade is a Plains Cree from Peepeekisis First Nation visual artist, musician, storyteller, and workshop facilitator. Aurora started performing professionally across Canada at the age of nine years old.  She has performed her music and original songs at various venues, radio stations, benefits, and theatres. Her artistic vision is to mix fine Indigenous art with bold graphic design through acrylic medium. Her art has been shown in multiple galleries, coffee shops, and Pow Wows.  Aurora participated in the 2022-2023 MASC Reconciliation Legacy Indigenous Internship that pairs emerging Indigenous artists with MASC artists to collaborate on school and community projects that include Indigenous content and teachings. Aurora is also a trained Educational Assistant.

  • Saturday Jun 10, 2023 at 2:30pm
    60 minutes

    Covered in this presentation will be various Indigenous instrumentation made mostly by David himself as a traditional drum/rattle/flute builder. Participants will examine materials used in their physical construction and learn how they are operated, as well as their importance in pre- and post-colonial society. David will give examples of the above through an interactive musical performance. Depending on the level of interest and pre-existing knowledge of the participants, the origin of various rhythms and melodic scales utilized in different regions may be touched upon. David will also cite cases where outside instrumentation was adopted (often altered in use and construction) into existing Indigenous social paradigms and vice versa. Contemporary Indigenous music and what entails being a modern Indigenous working musician may also be covered if there is interest.

    Registration Required. Family Program for ages 5-12.

    Meet David Finkle:

    Hailing from Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory in southern Ontario, David Finkle is an award-winning multi-instrumental recording artist versed in many musical genres. He’s a sound engineer, traditional knowledge keeper, storyteller, drum maker, and producer. He has completed scores for various theatrical productions, documentaries and full-length features. 

    David’s music ranges from traditional melodies unchanged for thousands of years, to complete live improvisation and often crafts his own traditionally made instruments himself. 

    For the past 30 years, he has performed notable concerts and festivals with prominent world musicians nationally as well as internationally in areas such as North/South/Central America, the Caribbean, the high Arctic, Europe, and Africa. 

    Found on gold albums and having won numerous awards, his musicianship is both instinctual as well as dogmatic, involving a deceptively deep understanding of music theory but without allowing it to stifle heartfelt compositions. 

  • Monday Jun 12, 2023 at 1:30pm
    60 minutes

    Primarily for older adults, this guided interactive and participatory drumming experience focuses more on fun than form, and is for anyone that has wanted to learn basic hand drum patterns and share in the joy of group drumming.  No experience is necessary- just bring your rhythmic spirit! ​

    Optional - your own hand drum (djembe, bongo) or rhythm maker (i.e  empty coffee canister) There will be some extra drums and rhythm instruments available for use.​​

    Note — please bring your own foam ear plugs or noise canceling headphones if sensitive to sound. Masks are optional, in keeping with current OPL policies. ​

  • Reading Buddies

    Mondays, Jun 12, 2023 - Jun 26, 2023
    5:15pm
    30 minutes

    3 sessions remaining

    Do you have children in grades 1-3?  Would you like them to read more?  Then join our weekly Reading Buddies program.   Each child will be paired with a volunteer for fun and interactive read aloud sessions.  Together they will share the joys of reading in a friendly, encouraging and enthusiastic environment.  Registration required.