Shown below are all our DCCRC Newsletters:
January – February 2020
Hello to each of our valued Members from your DCCRC Board of Directors:
The winter solstice occurred on Saturday, December 21 and now we are looking toward spring. Your Board of Directors has been very busy during this quieter time on the land. You can learn about our various projects on the NEW website – same website URL but the content has changed greatly.
Yes, the DCCRC is pleased to have a “new” website. The one we had this time last year has been transformed and updated. The Board now has a local Webmaster who has taken on responsibility for the website. Over the last six months, the website has been moved to another provider and many changes to the look of it have occurred. Please check it out. When you do, you will see there are articles and pictures of happenings in 2019. Included are those from the Orange Shirt Day events, the first Land Acknowledgment read by the Mayor of the Town of Orangeville, the completion and Grand Opening and Naming of the Medicine Wheel Garden and more. You will also read about the “Hills of Headwaters Collaborative” of which we are a part. Short write ups on the Home page talk about our Flag and our Fifth Anniversary.
When you click on the “links” or go directly to the “News” you will find more information (and pictures). The articles on the “Home” page are fairly brief because more details are on the “News” page. Older newsletters are also a sub-page of the “News”. Current news and happenings such as our upcoming Annual General Meeting will also appear on the “News” page as well as the “Event” page.
On the Fundraising Page you will find our sponsorship statement and information. It explains that “It is the DCCRC’s mission to advance, foster, encourage and promote the traditions, culture and social interests of Indigenous people in Dufferin through cultural programs and events, and to seek our own funded space for cultural programs and events”.
As we move into February, your Board is preparing for spring and summer happenings. Our Annual General Meeting will be held on Saturday, April 4, 1-4 pm at the Alder Street Recreation Centre. DCCRC celebrates National Indigenous Peoples Day at Alexandra Park on June 20th. NIPD is June 21st. That morning from 5:30 – 7:30 the Summer Solstice Sunrise Ceremony will happen at the Medicine Wheel Garden.
Our DCCRC web site is https://www.dufferincountyculturalresourcecircle.org. Watch for additions and updates.
Any comments or questions are always welcome. You will notice that this newsletter is coming to you from my new DCCRC secretarial email address.
This newsletter is approved by DCCRC chair, Deb Sipkema.
December 2019
To the Members of the Dufferin County Cultural Resource Circle:
The Dufferin County Cultural Resource Circle Board of Directors sends a “Happy Holiday” to each of our valued members.
DCCRC is also celebrating the fifth anniversary of its incorporation. Five years of many exciting events, programs and sharing with our community.
Also attached is a photo taken at the Community Gathering Potluck Lunch sponsored by Humber College-Orangeville Campus on the weekend. A great gathering of friends and sharing of each person’s food offering. Young Creek Drum Group came all the way from Sault Ste Marie to bring the Young Creek Drum to our event. A great honour for all of us.
An “update” email letting you know what DCCRC have been up to recently will be sent out in January when life may have slowed down for most of us.
Regards and Happy Holidays. DCCRC Board of Directors.
Hello, Members of the Dufferin County Cultural Resource Circle:
Much has happened over the last three months and we wanted to share that news with you.
But first, let me remind you that you are invited to join us at our Community Gathering Potluck Lunch at Alder Street Recreation Centre on Saturday, December 7 from 11 am to 3 pm. Please bring a friend and/or family member. Bring some food and a feasting bundle (cutlery and dishes) and enjoy a great meal, music and a time of fellowship.
From the summertime to the start of October, we were working on our big Orange Shirt Day project. It was very successful thanks to the strong support from our Dufferin County Community. Sponsors, supporters, members and the general public helped make our Orange Shirt Day endeavour a total success. With the generous help of Mark’s in Orangeville, we created 150 t-shirts with the message of Orange Shirt Day printed on them. As you know, this is a national movement in Canada to honour former residential school students whose families and communities have been damaged by the policies and actions of the Government of Canada and the churches that operated the schools. Thanks goes to all who purchased these shirts and wore them in the month of September. You helped us take the message to our Community and beyond. As well, helping highlight this message, Deja Vu Diner held a fundraiser for us on the weekend of September 28-29 and Orangeville Public Library invited our Community Elder, Karen Vandenberg, to speak at their Storyteller event on September 30th.
Your Board of Directors is now working on several projects involving outreach into the Community. Our goal is to increase and strengthen that outreach over the next months and next year. Many changes are happening in our Orangeville Community and we are working to be a part of them where we can.
On November 11, Deb Sipkema, our Chairperson, will be making a presentation at Shelburne Town Council regarding the Land Acknowledgment at 7:30 pm.
November is Indigenous Education Month. A number of important days are recognized with the goal of deepening knowledge and learning about our history. Here are some of those days that may be of interest to you:
Treaties Recognition Week in Ontario – November 6-10. This Week was introduced in 2016 to honour the importance of treaties and to teach about treaty rights and treaty relationships.Inuit Day – November 7
Remembering Aboriginal Veterans – November 8 and November 11. November 8 is a day specifically dedicated to remembering Indigenous veterans and their contributions to war efforts on behalf of Canada. Indigenous people have a long history of defending both here at home and abroad.
Louis Riel day – November 16. This day honours the sacrifices and work of Métis leader Louis Riel and recognizes the many contributions of the Métis to Canada and to highlight the continuing struggles that Métis encounter.
We hope you find this information of interest. Please send us any questions or thoughts as to what you would like to read in the next email letter.
Hoping to see you on December 7.
September 2019
Hello, Members of the Dufferin County Cultural Resource Circle:
Autumn colours are starting to show and thoughts are turning towards the changes that September brings. And here is the September update covering upcoming events:
As mentioned in our August Email, September 30th is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation which is also known as Orange Shirt Day. This Day honours and commemorates generations of children who attended residential schools.
Your Board has created their own Orange Shirt Day shirt for the first time. The Orange Shirt Day Committee has had a very interesting time learning about creating shirts. Two sponsors have come forward to help us fund this venture. We want you, our members, to be the first to know about them!
The t-shirts sell for $12.00 (cash or cheque only). Yes, very inexpensive because this is the very first production of OSD shirts. Rather than being a fundraiser this year, we are focused on getting the message out to the community – the message about residential schools. In September, a great way to spread that message is to wear an orange t-shirt with the above message printed on it. Each shirt comes with a handout explaining the background of Orange Shirt Day. The shirt is “unisex” and comes in sizes Medium, Large and Extra-Large. Please email me if you would like to order one or more. I can arrange to meet somewhere to give you the t-shirts or, if that is impossible, we can make other arrangements. I expect to pick up the shirts late this Thursday.
Please feel free to pass this email on to others who are not members.
In connection with Orange Shirt Day, our DCCRC Community Elder, who is a member of our Board, will be speaking as the Storyteller at the Orangeville Public Library on September 30th . There will be a poster sent out by the Library shortly and I will forward that to our members, as well. And you can be sure there will be orange t-shirts being worn there! This is the current announcement on the OPL’s Event page: First Nations Public Library Week is September 29 to October 5. DCCRC local Elder will be our special guest on Monday, September 30 at 1p.m. (Mill St.) to commemorate Orange Shirt Day. She will share the story “Shin-chi’s Canoe” by Nicola Campbell and Kim LaFlave.
On September 28-29, Orangeville restaurant Deja Vu is kindly fundraising for DCCRC.
On October 24th the Dufferin Board of Trade Awards Gala will be held at the Orangeville Agricultural Society Event Centre. DCCRC is nominated under the heading of “Association of the Year”. Gala tickets will go on sale shortly. The Dufferin Board of Trade can be reached at 519-941-0490.
On December 7th – our Community Gathering Potluck will be held from 11 am to 3 pm at the Humber College – Orangeville Campus. Room 209, TD Room. Last year there were approximately 50-60 people enjoying this time of sharing and being together. I know December is far away but wanted to let you know before your calendar is booked up. Hope to see you there.
Also on December 10th, Dufferin County Cultural Resource Circle will celebrate the fifth anniversary of its creation.
Please send us suggestions as to what you would like to read in these monthly emails. We want them to be informative, educational and, yes, fun.
On behalf of the Board, thank you for your support.