Downtown Winnipeg gathering aims to bring Indigenous, newcomer communities together

Downtown Winnipeg gathering aims to bring Indigenous, newcomer communities together

'Stronger together' was theme of annual event held by community organizations

The sounds of drums and singing filled downtown Winnipeg's Central Park on Thursday as people gathered for an event aimed at bringing Indigenous and newcomer communities together.

Less than a week before Canada marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, many wore orange t-shirts with the words "stronger together," the event's theme.

That message represented the theme organizers chose for the event, which has grown in recent years to include a powwow.

Bren Dixon, a program manager at Mount Carmel Clinic, which helped organize the gathering, said it's about people coming together to learn and share.

"Often, when newcomers first arrive in Canada, they have preconceived notions of Indigenous culture, often really grounded in those colonial myths and harms that they might hear before arriving in Canada," Dixon said.

"So, it really grew out of an opportunity for education."

Powwow dancer Ken Saunders said it felt like a celebration.

"Of our culture, and showing the people, all nationalities, what our culture is like," Saunders said.

Arinze Charles is from Nigeria and arrived in Winnipeg less than two years ago. He was volunteering with the non-profit Welcome Place, which supports newcomers.

Charles was there to expand his horizons, he said.

"This is a new place for us," he said. "So, it's important for us to go out, meet people, socialize, get to know where they're from, get to also share their ways of life and also introduce our ways of life."

William Greenwalt is from the United States and now lives in Winnipeg. The veteran carried an eagle staff in the powwow.

"It's very important for people to know who other people are. And the best way to know it, is to get involved with it."

Elder Val Vint offered a prayer as part of the evening's program.

"I find the newcomers to be more open, 'cause they haven't been tainted with the growing up in the racism that we have here…. And many of the immigrant cultures have experienced the same thing we did. So, they get it."

Taking care of mother nature and the importance of kindness were messages she planned to share with others.

"People, you know, want that feeling of being accepted or being spoken to by somebody without judgement," Vint said.

"That's a huge thing. And to be able to give that to somebody is a gift."

Alana Cole is a reporter at CBC Manitoba. Email: alana.cole@cbc.ca