Maanjidowin 2010:
A Lifetime of Memories

Thousands showed up to see Aboriginal Culture and History come  alive at Maanjidowin. The drums called and the people gathered.

From sunrise on Saturday July 17th to sunset on Sunday July 18th diverse cultures from the Mississauga Community, Southern Ontario and as far away as Northern Quebec converged at JC Saddington Park in Port Credit, overlooking the Credit River.   Consistent with the theme of the Event “Friendships that transcend time”, the community joined with our First Nations, Metis, and Inuit friends for an unique and amazing experience of culture and history.

The volunteers, program and ambience were exceptional. Enthusiastic volunteers from as young as twelve years worked for three days and filled over 200 spots to ensure a successful event. They handed out surveys, greeted guests, and assisted with entertainment, the marketplace and educational village.  Based on exit surveys 100% of the visitors said they will come again. The following expresses the sentiment of those in attendance “thank you so much for the opportunity to be there and all that I learned even in dealing with the storms, it was an adventure and would do it again.”

The entertainment circle which included drummers, fiddlers, dancers, jiggers, throat singers, heritage re-enactors and Red Slam was the catalyst to stimulate visitors’ curiosity into a culture that is not well understood. The tremendous value and long-term benefit that everyone commented on were the teachings and educational experience. Sharing in the experience were community leaders including Mayor McCallion, MPP Charles Sousa, MP Navdeep Bains, Councillor Sanderson, Councillor Palleschi and Barbara O’Neil, President of Heritage Mississauga who were flag ca rriers in the Grand Entry led by Chief Bryan Laforme.

Maanjidowin was supported by an Ontario Trillium Foundation Grant and was presented by Heritage Mississauga and its partners, the Mississaugas of the New Credit, the Credit River Métis Council, the Peel Aboriginal Steering Committee, Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board, Peel District School Board, Region of Peel, Port Credit Community Foundation, City of Brampton and the City of Mississauga. Other Community sponsors included Long and McQuade, Loblaws, SIMMCO Audiovisual Solutions, John Bruce Photography and Johnston Research Inc.

Heritage Mississauga has had a history of accomplishments working with the Aboriginal Community. These include the celebration of Maanjidowin 2005, publishing “In the Footsteps of the Mississaugas”, promoting the Mississauga of New Credit First Nations Three Fires Pow Wow, providing internships to UTM students to research Aboriginal history in Mississauga and is in the process of building a commemorative garden at the Mission Site on Mississauga Road. The Foundation’s work to educate and raise awareness of Aboriginal History and Culture is ongoing. 

Miigwetch.

Archived Pages

• Maanjidowin - Pow Wow 2005