ELDER WILLIAM COMMANDA’S
2004 CIRCLE OF ALL NATIONS SPIRITUAL
GATHERING
SPECIAL FOCUS ON WATER
1. FRIDAY
MORNING
Water – Presentations explore problems with
pollution, contamination, river shoreline erosion etc. and highlight
innovative, leading edge initiatives for conservation, protection, and
purification.
Douglas J. Cardinal: Victoria Island - Green Space
Indigenous Architect (Canadian
Museum of Civilization). Presentation on the conceptual designs for the Victoria
Island Indigenous Centre, with particular attention to creation of an
environmentally friendly green space and surroundings, utilizing innovative solar
energy and waste reclamation techniques, in collaborative coexistence with its
surroundings
Levania Hentschal: River Restoration: Healing Corridors of Life
Biologist, worked in Mexico to bring governments, community
and volunteers together to revegetate, clean and stop erosion along creeks and
rivers so that animal and plant life could be restored by rebuilding corridors
of life along the wonderful webs where water and biodiversity meet, watersheds being
the geographical units with which the territory has to be managed.
Naoko Hitomi: Innovations: Effective Microorganism,
Non-AdditiveSoaps Gardening and Health
Educator of
Japanese origin, working in the United States and elsewhere to advance and
promote awareness of the urgent need to respect and protect nature; she will
discuss the benefits of effective microorganisms and non additive soaps that
contribute to cleaning the waters and sewer systems as well as healthy healing
gardening
Sen. Len Hopkins: Ottawa Heritage River
Chair, Ottawa Heritage River Designation Committee. Presentation
on the effort now underway to have the Ottawa River designated as a Heritage
River, in recognition of its unique cultural and natural heritage worthy of acknowledgement
and protection; a special emphasis is focussed on ensuring that the history of the
Algonquin peoples, and in particular their relationship with the mighty Kichissippi.
2. SATURDAY MORNING
Presentations explore
the Water and its spiritual/social/cultural interface with individuals and
communities, and its contribution to healing
Larry McDermott: River: A Natural Body
Mayor, Lanark County,
and President, Plenty Canada, has been involved in international projects
focussed on water and environment protection and conservation, as well as the
Earth Summit. Presentation focuses on
the indigenous view of the River and it
spiritual/social and cultural importance.
Shiroh Tenge: Nature, Water
and Healing
Founder, Holotropic Centre, Japan, a centre
dedicated to healing, spirituality and a balanced relationship with Mother
Earth; Senior Sony Official and author of several books, some focussing on his
relationship wit the indigenous peoples of North America; Presentation will
focus on an eastern perspective on Spirituality, Nature ad Healing.
Kirk Wipper: Rivers, People and Watercraft
Educator and Founder, Canadian
Canoe Museum, Over the course of his life time he tirelessly collected over six
hundred watercraft from across the country, thus preserving the water craft
history; also actively involved with Heritage Rivers Association. Presentation on the historic/cultural/social
heritage of the waterways of Canada
William Commanda: The May 2004 Canoe Project
Algonquin Elder, renowned Birch Bark Canoe Maker,
with canoes in over 75 locatons across the world, and with a special display at
the Canadian Canoe Museum in Peterborough; at the age of ninety, he built his
latest canoe, teaching about his lifetime passion with this life sustaining
craft of his ancestors, and at the same time, noting the tremendous loss in
natural resources such as the birch bark, straight cedar and spruce roots.
Eric Crowe & George Fenn: Pulling Together: Ont. ‘04 Canoe Project
RCMP Officer Eric Crowe, colleague George Fenn,
together with 13 different police service and over a hundred native and non
native community representatives, participated in a six day canoe adventure on
the Trent River System, one designed to build relationships, promote racial harmony
andexperience the regenerative powers of nature and the indigenous gift to the
newcomers: the art of canoeing.
Dawn L. Ferguson: Children Singing Peace Around
the World
A Musician from Hawaii, Dawn has
been travelling around the world, teaching about peace, and in particular,
working with children, to teach her special Peace Song to children in their own
languages: several years ago Grandfather translated her song into Algonquin. She also raises awareness about the plight
of the sea creatures, especially the whales and dolphins.
Artist Marcel Dubuc
The Brooks are our Children
Creating a Living Brook,
with clay, stones, plants
Friday and Saturday
afternoons: Participants are invited to
create a living brook, made with clay; on the banks they will make little
gardens with stones, plants, clay animals, houses and bridges as a “thank you”
to the water.
2. AFTERNOON WORKSHOP IN FRENCH WITH
TRANSLATION
Manuel Desrochers - Géobiologue-Antenniste
Effects of words, sounds, and prayer on Water: an
overview of Dr Masaru Emoto's work:
“Water is an amazing element because it
got the capacity of memorizing and transmitting information on very large
distances: it is the Universal Messenger! The workshop offers the opportunity
to learn the importance of showing all our respect and gratitude to the noblest
liquid, in order to send healing messages to Mother Earth and all the beings
that are living on. Workshop will end with a ''Love, Thanks, and Respect to
Water'' ceremony. “