National Aboriginal Day in the Comox Valley

National Aboriginal Day Celebration - June 21st

A day long celebration of First Nations Culture and Achievement. This free family friendly event is open to the whole Comox Valley! 

Presented by Komoks First Nation, Kumugwe Cultural Society, I-Hos Gallery and Vancouver Island MusicFest 

Celebrate the summer solstice along the beautiful shores of the Courtenay Estuary. Enjoy tasty local food like traditional Sockeye Salmon cooked on cedar sticks on an open fire. Clam Chowder, ...Buffalo Stwe, Bannock and crepes. Bring a blanket or a lawn chair for the live music from 6-8. Keep in the mind the cool winds off the ocean and bring along a nice warm sweater! 

Events Include:
All Day - Guest Artist, George Littlechild at the I-Hos Gallery
2:30 - 3pm Free Jiggers Workshop for family and youth in the band hall by Lisa Shepherd
3-4 Kumugwe Dancers in Big House
4-5 Lisa Shepherd and dance troupe in the Big House
5- 5:30 Ray Peters and his Coast Salish dancers Tzinqua from Duncan
6-8 Vancouver Island Music Fest presents live music with Ed Peekeekoot and Janet Blythe Panic!



To check out this event go to their website here

Upcoming Vancouver Workshop

Check out or register for this upcoming workshop in Vancouver called Keepers of the Children: Native American Wisdom and Parenting.
You can register at www.eventbrite.com

Keepers of the Children offers a unique perspective on parenting by using little known Native American concepts to show parents how to raise children to reach their true potential. By raising children to unfold the gifts within their hearts, parents more deeply touch their own. In this way, parenting is a path of mutual becoming—as the child grows, the parent is challenged to grow as well. This is a delightful perk of child stewardship.
In Keepers of the Children: Native American Wisdom and Parenting, you will learn:
• How to encourage children's uniqueness and set them upon the path of purpose from the start.
• How to teach children to act from integrity and strength.
• The true meaning of discipline: How to teach children to make life-affirming choices on their own.
• How to use nature to teach children the basics of psychology so they will avoid the traps of peer pressure and those who intend to do them harm.
• All about child development and your development as a parent.
• How parenting is a path of personal growth for child and parent.
• How to create a lifelong, mutually fulfilling relationship with your child

June 23rd, 9:30 - 3:30 pm

June 24th, 9:30 - 3:30 Lunch Included both days

Laura Ramirez is the mother of two boys and the wife of a Native American man. In raising her children to embrace the fullness of their heritage, she has created a way of parenting that combines the most resourceful aspects of two worlds. Ms. Ramirez has a degree in psychology, has written numerous articles on raising children and is the publisher of Family Matters Parenting Magazine.

First Nations/Metis Adoption Family Camp

Well, the First Nations/Metis family camp discussed in the last post on this blog has come and gone. It was small but awesome. Thanks to the families with children by adoption who came, and especially thanks to the First Nations people who came and supported us in this camp. They encouraged and inspired us and shared stories that we won't forget.
We hope to do it again sometime soon.

First Nations/Metis Family Camp

There will be a family camp for families with children of First Nations/Metis heritage to be held this coming March 4th to 6th on Quadra Island. If you are family who'd like to come, or a person of First Nations heritage who'd like to volunteer please contact me at cgilbert@bcadoption.com or at 1-866-334-3873.
It is likely that the camp will fill quickly, so let me know as soon as you know and we can complete the registration process.
thank you