Oheroh:kon Youth Cultural Program

Apaji-wla’matulinej (the Righting Relations East Hub), Wapna’kikewi’skwaq – Women of First Light, the Peace and Friendship Committee and Tatamagouche Centre invite you to the Oheroh:kon Youth Cultural Program co-facilitated by Louise Herne McDonald and Amber Skye.

Event – 2 Day Workshop 9am – 5pm
Location -Tatamagouche Centre, Tatamagouche, NS
Date – October 3 – 6, 2024

This program is in partnership with Cape Breton University, the Tatamagouche Centre, the Peace and Friendship Committee, and the Women of First Light.

Before reinventing the wheel to provide Mi’kmaw youth with a program that promotes subsiding from ‘mind changers’ (alcohol/drugs/addictions), it could be vital to bring in the women who created the program, along with Wabanaki Knowledge Holders, to co-create this program here in the East. We have invited Ohero:kon (Under the Husk) to present the journeys of trial and error to plan a successful youth cultural program. Each program consists of 4-year term from starting puberty onto young adult life. A new program can be developed with planning and innovation of all Mi’kmaq teachings, songs, and traditions.

This new programming is not to take on Haudenosaunee teachings, this workshop is to listen how the planning and logistics have and still are being done rekindle. This program is aimed to train people in Mi’gma’gi who are interested in being a mentor and role model for the youth at risk in our communities. This was identified as a priority to the Peace and Friendship Committee held in January 2024. The end goal is to be able to offer this program at the Tatamagouche Centre.

Ohero:kon is a ceremony that has been started in the Akwesasne Mohawk Territory to which has then been carbonated to the Six Nations Grand River Territory. This ceremony targets youth to cultural identity teachings. The duration begins with puberty and continues for four years of gathering in ceremony. The agenda will vary depending on the season and the availability of the ceremonial speakers. The items of the agenda are to include as examples (to list some):

• Encompassing traditions and cultural components of our Indigenous absolute ways of life – ceremony, language, hunting/gathering, learning of foods/harvest, clothing, shelter, games, rights of passage, conception to death in roles and responsibilities
• Empowering young men’s/women’s roles and responsibilities
• Building a supportive network of Auntie’s, Uncles, Grandfathers and Grandmothers and extended families to reconnect those supports for each gathering/ceremony
• To inspire and give life to Mi’kmaq stories that will benefit the youth
• Relationships in learning good health in community in depths of Health and Medicines and Sexuality, Violence, Grief, Foods, Emotions and Healing

These agenda items highlight some teachings that will be a part of planning a 4-year youth program plan to be implemented throughout Wabanaki Homelands.

Limited Spaces Available – Designated Resource Person to Support the Participants. There is no cost to attend this event. Meals and accommodations will be covered. There is a limited travel budget

To register, click this link.

*If you need help to register, contact the Peace and Friendship Coordinator by email at peaceandfriendship@tatacentre.com or by phone at 902-657-2231 ext. 3