Below are some of the past events hosted by the Dufferin County Cultural Resource Circle. Other past events may be seen or shown on the Events, Home or News pages.
October 4, 2021: Annual Walk for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls
On Monday, October 4, members of the Dufferin County Cultural Resource Circle (DCCRC), community leaders, and others from the community gathered together to recognize the National Day of Action for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG).
These events, which are held across the country, aim to draw attention to the crisis, demanding action from all levels of government to stop the violence.
In a 2015 report from the Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC) it was noted that between 2000 to 2008, Aboriginal women and girls represented approximately 10 per cent of all female homicides in Canada, despite making up only three per cent of the country’s population.
The walk began at 12:00 pm at the Dufferin County Court House parking lot. This parking lot is at the back of the court house near the intersection of Elizabeth and Louisa Streets in Orangeville.
The Orangeville Banner wrote an excellent article about this activity. You can read it here. Also, our thanks to the Banner for permission to use the pictures from their article in the photo gallery below.
September 30, 2021: Candle Vigil Walk to the Medicine Wheel Garden
On September 30 at the Alder Street Recreation Centre we will be meeting between 6:00 pm and 6:30 pm to do a candle vigil walk to the Medicine Wheel Garden. Once there we will have a 5 minute talk followed by 2 minutes of silence for the children recovered and yet to be recovered.
The Orangeville Banner wrote an excellent article on the event. You can read it here. Also, our thanks to the Banner for permission to use the pictures from their article in the photo gallery below.
The Eagleheart Drummers
On the evening of June 30, 2021 the Eagleheart Drummers joined us in Orangeville for an Evening of Remembrance in honour of the many souls lost to the Indian Residential School System. You can watch the Facebook video here.
National Indigenous Peoples Day 2021
Dufferin County Cultural Resource Circle recognized this year’s National Indigenous Peoples Day with a virtual education celebration filmed at the Mino Kamik Medicine Wheel Garden on Saturday, June 19, 2021. This virtual celebration was featured on Facebook Live.
The intent of the virtual education celebration was to provide an understanding of local and regional Indigenous ancestries through the history of the Land Acknowledgement as well as a tour of the Healing Garden located at the Alder Recreation Complex in Orangeville.
Led by Elder Karen Vandenberg, viewers of this event learned the importance of the Mino Kamik Medicine Wheel Garden and how best to support and nurture its long-term viability and presence in the Orangeville Community.
David Nairn, Artistic Director of Theatre Orangeville, presented The Creation Story. Town of Orangeville Counsellor Joe Andrews opened the ceremony and acted as Master of Ceremonies.
To view the Facebook event click here.
Social Gathering 2020
DCCRC is pleased to announce its first 2020 Social Gathering to be held on Saturday, March 14 – 1 – 4 pm. Please come and join us in Room 215, Alder Street Recreation Centre, Orangeville. Share this moment with us. Bring your own project if you’d like. We ask that you bring your own beverage and snack. There will also be door prizes and announcements. All are welcome. Cancelled due to COVID-19
Orange Shirt Day
Orange Shirt Day is September 30 – Its purpose is to help create awareness of the individual, family and community inter-generational impacts of Indian Residential Schools. During September, 2019, DCCRC sold orange t-shirts which we had created. Wording on the shirts included “EVERY CHILD MATTERS. Honouring the children who survived the Indian Residential Schools and remembering those who didn’t”. This was our way of taking the message out to our own community and encouraging discussion as well. Other local OSD fundraising for DCCRC occurred during September. In addition, our Community Elder spoke at the Orangeville Public Library’s Storyteller Hour on the actual day, September 30, 2019.
Starting in 2021 September 30th is also Truth and Reconciliation Day. This solemn day has been established to honour the lost children and Survivors of residential schools, their families and communities, and to ensure public commemoration of the history and legacy of residential schools as a vital component of the reconciliation process.
Community Gathering Potluck Lunch 2019
On December 7, 2019, the Community Gathering Potluck Lunch was held at the T-D Room at Alder Street Recreation Centre. A great gathering of friends and sharing of each person’s food offering. The 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.
National Indigenous Peoples Day 2019
June 20-21, 2019, DCCRC hosted our fifth annual National Indigenous Peoples Day. The Proclamation for recognizing Indigenous Peoples Day was presented to the Chief of Nawash.
This free, family-friendly event featured live music, Indigenous and local artisans and crafters, traditional drummers and dancers as well as traditional Indigenous foods. It was held at Alexandra Park behind Orangeville Town Hall.