Unite For Good Gathering

 

 

The 1st Annual Unite For Good Gathering was a tremendous amount of work, but my goodness gracious, it was worth every minute. What a truly special day where Indigenous and non-Indigenous friends and neighbours that came together with open hearts, respect, kindness and a genuine willingness to listen, learn and simply enjoy being together in sharing truths and knowledge.

 

To see Territory Gimma's, Anishinabek Knowledge Holders, community members and representatives connected to the Robinson Huron Treaty of 1850, municipal and town leaders, our Ontario riding MPP, Federal MP, community partners, friends, neighbours and supporters all together in one room was deeply encouraging. For one meaningful evening, it truly felt like everyone was together.

 

There was a warmth in the room that was impossible to miss. People were smiling, talking, laughing, listening and making new connections. The distance between Nations and peoples' seemed to soften. Friendships were strengthened and renewed relationships began with a real sense of possibility, where it felt like something memorable and important had started and that alone may be the greatest success of the Gathering. Reconciliation became something all peoples' could actually see, sense and feel and not as a slogan, but through shared space, honest conversation, kindness, respect and a simple choice to sit together in a good way. 

 

As Chief Adam Pawis of Shawanaga Nation so thoughtfully shared, the Gathering marked the beginning of a long over-due conversation, where our shared and important work begins now.

 

Most importantly, we are sincerely grateful to each and every sponsor, donor, contributor, partner, volunteer, supporter and both Wasauksing and Shawanaga Nations and Chief Dean Sayers and everyone who helped through third-party, especially the Parry Sound Muskoka Chamber of Commerce. Quite simply, this Gathering would not have happened without the many allies and genuine friends of the Anishinabek Peoples' that made it a point to support the 1st Annual Unite For Good Gathering and Rotary Revival’s Reconciliation efforts. 

 

Thank you.

 

Every contribution mattered. Every helping hand mattered. Every person who believed in our vision for reconciliation and the purpose of the evening helped bring the Gathering to life. Please know we are sincerely thankful to each and every one of you and especially for the Charles W. Stockey for the Performing Arts events team, who went above and beyond in helping to make the Gathering even a better success.

 

Real Change does not always begin in boardrooms or government offices. Sometimes it begins in a room full of friends, neighbours, seniors, Elders, leaders, families, volunteers and simply good humans willing to sit together and listen to one another toward finding a better way forward, and that is the grassroots spirit of the Unite For Good Reconciliation Movement. 

If one room can bring shared communities closer together, imagine what can happen when an entire Province and or perhaps an entire country begins to do the same ?

 

Thank you for showing your support as friends and allies of the Original Caretakers of Mother Earth, your kind efforts have helped uplift the voice of the Original Peoples’ and strengthen relationships in support of the broader community, regional youth and the heartbeat of our shared communities. Please join us at Rotary Revival as we turn reconciliation into action, and begin to rebuild bridges of trust, respect and renewed friendship with the First Peoples’ of Turtle Island, and choose together, a better, kinder, more united path forward for the betterment of all peoples', generations yet to come and those yet to walk upon Mother Earth.