Sweetgrass Gathering Circle - Aftercare Peer Support
2025-10-09 17:00 - 18:30, 2025-10-16 17:00 - 18:30, 2025-10-23 17:00 - 18:30, 2025-10-30 17:00 - 18:30, 2025-11-06 17:00 - 18:30 (America/Toronto)
Location: 110 Matchedash St N, OrilliaTime: Thursdays – Join in person at 5:00 PM for food and connection, or join virtually at 5:30 PM
The Sweetgrass Gathering Circle is a weekly hybrid peer support group for Indigenous adults actively engaged in recovery. Each session opens in a good way—with smudging, food, and community—and offers a safe, supportive space to build wellness, identity, and resilience.
Through a mix of cultural teachings, creative expression, group discussion, and meaningful connection, participants explore topics such as the Seven Grandfathers Teachings, Miikaans (Stages of Life), emotional awareness, gratitude, healthy boundaries, and cultural crafting.
Whether you’ve been part of WMS, ASEC, AA, or other recovery programs, this circle offers a space to stay grounded in recovery through culture and community.

Indigenous Death Worker Training via Blackbird Medicines
2025-10-14 08:00 - 2025-10-15 16:30 | Horseshoe Valley Resort
Mamaway Wiidokdaadwin is excited to announce that we will be hosting a two-day, in-person education session with Blackbird Medicines to share the Indigenous Death Worker Training. We would like to invite you to register for this training event; please see more information below:
ABOUT: The Indigenous Death Worker Training program helps individuals become prepared to offer care and support in their communities. This program supports helpers to:

Reclaim traditional teachings for coping with grief, loss, death, and dying.
Build skills and capacity to supporting others experiencing grief, loss, death, and dying.
Gain essential knowledge in end-of-life care and support systems.
Role model health expressions of grief and learn the foundations of sharing personal stories in a safe environment.
Empower caregivers to reclaim death, dying, grief, and loss ways.
Learn practical strategies for grief and harm reduction to cope with scenarios inside and outside the end-of-life realm.

WHO IS THIS FOR:

Anyone who provides palliative and/or end of life care and support for Indigenous peoples (First Nation, Inuit, and Métis)

Priority will be given to those who live and work within the North Simcoe Muskoka areas

DATES AND TIMES:

Day 1: Tuesday, October 14th (8:00am-4:00pm)
Day 2: Wednesday, October 15th (8:00am-4:00pm)

LOCATION: The training will take place at the Horseshoe Valley Resort.
NOTES:

Registration spaces are limited.
Priority will be given to applicants who live and work in the North Simcoe Muskoka Areas, and specifically provide palliative and/or end of life care, services, and supports to Indigenous peoples.
This is an expression of interest form. Please check your email in the coming weeks for confirmation of your registration.

This form will be open until September 28th, 2025 at 11:59pm.

REGISTRATION LINK:

https://forms.cloud.microsoft/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=Y_H4GvW3w0-8mBUv921ZQGzluHrCQlxMv1hDwU-eQ1dUMDY0VUNKT1Y5T0FCTk9DSllDMlBTWUU0Ry4u

Please contact Emily Dampier-Heins (Indigenous Palliative Care Coordinator with Mamaway Wiidokdaadwin) for any questions or concerns regarding this event and registration: edampier-heins@banac.on.ca
We hope to see you there!

Building Our Bundles: Uplifting Your Spirit (Midland)
2025-10-14 10:00 - 14:00, 2025-10-21 10:00 - 14:00, 2025-10-28 10:00 - 14:00, 2025-11-04 10:00 - 14:00
Join Mamaway Wiidokdaadwin Life Promoters Courtney Thomas and Bawd Elliott for Building Our Bundles: Uplifting Your Spirit 6-week Series!
This series will provide a safe and supportive space to connect with other community members and explore a range of topics related to cultural teachings and building your own bundle. By participating in the program, it will provide you with the tools and resources you need to help you live a good life!
Here is the breakdown of the 6-week Series and what we will be doing each week:

Week 1: What’s in Your Bundle?: What is a bundle? Bundle teachings.

Week 2: Four Sacred Medicines: Teachings about the four sacred medicines and harvesting.

Week 3: Shaker: What are shakers for?

Week 4: Eagle Feather Teachings: Eagle feather dressing and teachings.

Week 5: Ribbon Skirt/Shirt Teachings: Why do we wear ribbon skirts and ribbon skirts?

Week 6: Feast Your Bundles: Potluck Feast! Bring your favorite dish to share!

Throughout the 6 weeks, participants will make a bundle bag, smudge kit, medicine bags, dress a feather, a feather case, a shaker, ribbon skirts/shirts and lastly, bring their favorite dish to feast their bundles.
The series will run every Tuesday from 10:00am – 2:00pm in Midland.
Click link to register: https://survey.alchemer-ca.com/s3/50415771/Building-Our-Bundles-Uplifting-Your-Spirit-Q3-2025
If you have any questions, please reach out to Courtney Thomas at cthomas@banac.on.ca or Bawd Elliott at belliott@banac.on.ca

Ongoing Red Road to Recovery Peer Support Group
2025-10-14 18:30 - 20:30, 2025-10-21 18:30 - 20:30, 2025-10-28 18:30 - 20:30, 2025-11-04 18:30 - 20:30
If you have attended Red Road to Recovery series in the past and are looking for continued connection.
This ongoing peer support group meets weekly over zoom, Tuesdays from 630-830pm.
A peer support group is a safe space where community members with similar experiences can connect, share, and support each other.
This peer support group can help you feel less alone in your recovery, learn from others, and maintain hope.
Register by emailing Steve for zoom access.

Mino Miijim "Good Food" Roots of Wellness Series
2025-10-15 13:00 - 15:00 | 110 Matchedash Street N, Orillia (Mamaway Wiidokdaadwin Match Hub), 110 Matchedash Street N, Orillia, Ontario, L3V 4T8, Canada
Mino Miijim “Good Food” Roots of Wellness Series:
This session with provide information about living with diabetes/ preventing diabetes, and how to nourish the body through food. Each session will focus on a specific topic, followed by a cooking session where you will prepare food to take home and enjoy.
Registration is recommended to allow for the planning needed in purchasing food
Scan the QR code in poster above or follow link below or at the bottom of this page under (website) to register
https://survey.alchemer-ca.com/s3/50373133/Mino-Miijim-Roots-of-wellness-series
If you have any questions, please email Christal at cchampagne@banac.on.ca

Red Road to Recovery - Virtual
2025-10-15 18:00 - 20:00, 2025-10-22 18:00 - 20:00, 2025-10-29 18:00 - 20:00 | Zoom
Good Day,
We will be hosting a 10-week Red Road to Recovery session open to all community members over zoom. Please contact Roxanne to register for the series. Feel free to share with those who would benefit from attending this series.
Miigwetch!

Red Road to Recovery at GBNFC
2025-10-16 10:00 - 12:00, 2025-10-23 10:00 - 12:00, 2025-10-30 10:00 - 12:00, 2025-11-06 10:00 - 12:00 | Georgian Bay Native Friendship Centre, 175 Yonge St., Midland, Ontario, Canada
A 10-week program that uses the Medicine Wheel as a teaching tool and our Indigenous approach to healing to address the Physical, Emotional, Mental, and Spiritual aspects of addiction and mental health recovery.

TH Esstin Mcleod Session's (Medicine Healer)
2025-10-20 09:00 - 16:00
Traditional Healing Session with Esstin Mcleod in Mamaway Wiidokdaadwins Match Hub Barrie (in-person)
Please contact our clinic closest to you to make a referral
Barrie Clinic Location
125 Bell Farm Rd, Suite 200
Hours: 8:00am – 4:00pm
Phone: 705-721-9554
Fax: 855-941-2529
Orillia Clinic Location
210 Memorial Ave, Unit 112A&B
Hours: 8:00am – 4:00pm
Phone: 705-259-9520
Fax: 855-941-2531
A little more about Esstin;
Esstin (Niganobe), Anishinaabe Kwe of the Mississaugi First Nations in Mid-Northern Ontario, is a Healer / Medicine Practitioner. Esstin provides spiritual consultation and remedies to Native Health Care Centers in northern Ontario.
As Medicine Practitioner, Esstin provides plant-based remedies and instruction. As a Healer, Esstin works with spiritual energies and is influenced by ceremonial practices and Anishinaabe Elders and teachers. Throughout her 30 years of study and experience, Esstin developed a “Anishinaabe Wisdom Healing,” workshop series. Esstin facilitates Anishinaabe Women’s retreats and healing workshops utilizing the Medicine Wheel as an approach to holistic health and healing.
Please prepare your tobacco ahead of time to provide to Esstin Mcleod at your session.
Due to high demand, we ask that you please call if you have to cancel your appointment so others on the waitlist can see Esstin. Miigwech for your understanding.

TH Esstin Mcleod Session's (Medicine Healer)
2025-10-21 09:00 - 16:00
Traditional Healing Session with Esstin Mcleod in Mamaway Wiidokdaadwins Match Hub Orillia (in-person)
Please contact our clinic closest to you to make a referral
Barrie Clinic Location
125 Bell Farm Rd, Suite 200
Hours: 8:00am – 4:00pm
Phone: 705-721-9554
Fax: 855-941-2529
Orillia Clinic Location
210 Memorial Ave, Unit 112A&B
Hours: 8:00am – 4:00pm
Phone: 705-259-9520
Fax: 855-941-2531
A little more about Esstin;
Esstin (Niganobe), Anishinaabe Kwe of the Mississaugi First Nations in Mid-Northern Ontario, is a Healer / Medicine Practitioner. Esstin provides spiritual consultation and remedies to Native Health Care Centers in northern Ontario.
As Medicine Practitioner, Esstin provides plant-based remedies and instruction. As a Healer, Esstin works with spiritual energies and is influenced by ceremonial practices and Anishinaabe Elders and teachers. Throughout her 30 years of study and experience, Esstin developed a “Anishinaabe Wisdom Healing,” workshop series. Esstin facilitates Anishinaabe Women’s retreats and healing workshops utilizing the Medicine Wheel as an approach to holistic health and healing.
Please prepare your tobacco ahead of time to provide to Esstin Mcleod at your session.
Due to high demand, we ask that you please call if you have to cancel your appointment so others on the waitlist can see Esstin. Miigwech for your understanding.

Moon Lodge with Grandmother Renee & Sarah Connors
2025-10-21 13:00 - 15:00 | Microsoft Teams
Monthly virtual Moon Lodge is shifting gears a little bit this fiscal.
It will still be a safe place for women to come together to share their life experiences and embrace the teachings offered by Grandmother Renee and the knowledge shared by Sarah Connors, Naturopath & Indigenous Doula. And it will continue to occur the Third Tuesday of every month, 1-3pm.
Next year, we will be aligning our Moon Teachings with some life cycle wheel teachings. What this means is, we will focus on different age groups each month (some for 2 months because there has been a lot of requests for support in some topics discussed previously in those age groups). This will provide an opportunity for all ages to join us and learn more about some ways they can incorporate these tools and teachings to live the good life in all stages along our journey.
Grandmother Renee calls this “Life Stages Through the Moon Cycles”.
Ongoing until Dec 2025
We meet monthly over Microsoft Teams, email Lianne to receive the link.
Please fill in the registration link below:
Moon Lodge Registration 2025

Harvesting Camp
2025-10-23 12:00 - 2025-10-25 17:00
New harvesters will learn to harvest and field dress deer and partridge. This will take place on Oct 23rd, 24th, and 25th. Setting up camp on the afternoon of the 23rd and breaking camp on Saturday the 25th. If selected, Participants must provide proof of passing the hunter safety course and purchase a deer and small games license as well. Participants will be staying in heated tents.

Halloween Party 2025
2025-10-25 13:00 - 16:00 | 110 Matchedash Street N, Orillia (Mamaway Wiidokdaadwin Match Hub), 110 Matchedash Street N, Orillia, Ontario, L3V 4T8, Canada
🎃✨ You’re Invited to Our Spooktacular Halloween Party! ✨🎃

Calling all ghosts, goblins, mummies and superheroes! Join us for a fun filled afternoon of Halloween games music and food. Whether you’re into costumes, crafts, candy there’s something for everyone!

👻 Trick-or-Treat Stations
🎭 Costume Contest
🎨 Creepy Crafts
🍎Bobbing for Apples
🎶 Music & Dancing
🧩 Games, Challenges, and Prizes
🍛 Frankenstein’s Chili
You can also enjoy some ☕ hot chocolate down at the at the 🔥fire.

📅 Date: October 25th
📍 Location: 110 Matchedash St N Orillia
⏰ Time: 1pm to 4 pm
🎉 Free entry! Open to all youth and families. Please register by using this link –> Halloween Party 2025

Diabetes Screening Community Event
2025-10-30 09:00 - 16:00 | Casino Rama, 5899 Rama Rd, Orillia,, ON, L3V 0N7, Canada
Good day,
BANAC- Mamaway Wiidokdaadwin is partnering with the Indigenous Diabetes Health Circle (IDHC) to host this Diabetes Screening Community Event in Rama on October 30th, 2025.
Come and meet our newly trained regional foot care facilitators who will do assessments on your feet that day! A self care foot kit will be provided to those who participate.
What else can you expect:

Education, presentations, and information related to diabetes management
Screening on site for retinopathy (eyes), kidney (renal) and of course your feet
Nutritional BINGO – Prizes to be won!
Breakfast, Lunch, snacks, and refreshments will be provided.
Energizers + opportunity to connect and socialize with regional community members.

Who should attend:

Those living with Diabetes
Those newly diagnosed with diabetes
Those at risk of developing diabetes
Those who are supporting someone living with diabetes

Location: Casino Rama – 5899 Rama Rd, Orillia, ON L3V 0N7 (conference area by the Tim’s)
Date : Thursday, October 30, 2025
Time : 9 :00am – 4:00pm
Pre-register here so we can ensure we have enough food / space to accommodate everyone.
You will also be provided an agenda via email leading up to the event.
https://survey.alchemer-ca.com/s3/50379933/DiabetesScreeningEvent
We look forward to seeing you soon!

Naakshik Aniibiishaaboo Evening Tea
2025-11-05 18:00 - 20:00 | 110 Matchedash Street N, Orillia (Mamaway Wiidokdaadwin Match Hub), 110 Matchedash Street N, Orillia, Ontario, L3V 4T8, Canada
Join us each week as we explore various teas—from calming blends that promote restful sleep and relaxation, to herbal infusions that support stress relief, immune health, cold and flu recovery, pain and inflammation reduction, digestive balance, bloating relief, heart and circulatory wellness, and liver and kidney function.
Starts: November 5th
Day and Time: Wednesdays @ 6 PM
Location: Orillia

Please click on this link to register. Naakshik Aniibiishaaboo Evening Tea NOV 5th
Thanks a bunch!

Virtual Red Road to Recovery
2025-11-05 18:00 - 20:00 | Zoom
Aaniin,
We will be hosting our 10-week Red Road to Recovery program over Zoom starting Wednesday, November 5th .
This group meets every Wednesday over Zoom from 6:00-8:00 pm.
Please reach out to Roxanne to register.
Miigwetch!
