Sweetgrass Gathering Circle - Aftercare Peer Support
2025-10-23 17:00 - 18:30, 2025-10-30 17:00 - 18:30, 2025-11-06 17:00 - 18:30, 2025-11-13 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.

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

Building Our Bundles: Uplifting Your Spirit (Midland)
2025-10-28 10:00 - 14:00, 2025-11-04 10:00 - 14:00, 2025-11-11 10:00 - 14:00, 2025-11-18 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
2025-10-28 18:30 - 20:30, 2025-11-04 18:30 - 20:30, 2025-11-11 18:30 - 20:30, 2025-11-18 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.

Red Road to Recovery - Virtual
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!

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!

Red Road to Recovery at GBNFC
2025-10-30 10:00 - 12:00, 2025-11-06 10:00 - 12:00, 2025-11-13 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.

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, 2025-11-12 18:00 - 20:00, 2025-11-19 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!

Naakshik Aniibiishaaboo Evening Tea
2025-11-12 18:00 - 20:00 | 110 Matchedash St. N., 110 Matchedash St., N, Orillia, ON, L3V 4T8, Canada

Finding my Spirit within Q 3
2025-11-14 14:00 - 16:00 | 180 Courtland St, Ramara, ON, 180 Courtland St, Ramara, Ontario, L3V 0K8, Canada
Come and join this 6 week program where you learn to reconnect with Your Spirit within. This program will focus on the 7 Grandfather teachings and how you can incorporate them into your personal lives.

Harvest Moon Drum Social
2025-11-14 18:00 - 21:00 | Ferndale Banquet Hall, 24 Ferndale Industrial Drive, Barrie, Ontario, L4N 9W2, Canada
Good day,
Mamaway Wiidokdaadwin is thrilled to announce our 4th Annual Harvest Moon Big Drum Social.
Date: Friday, November 14th, 2025
Time: 6-9pm
Location: Ferndale Banquet Hall –
24 Ferndale Industrial Drive, Barrie ON

Everyone is welcome, no registration is required.

We are thrilled to welcome back;
MC: Allan Manitowabi
Invited Drums: Eagle Flight Singers & Ashunyung Singers + Haudenosaunee Singers

Important Considerations: (please read before attending)

We ask that you please stay home if you are feeling ill. Let’s consider our Elders and keep everyone safe!
This is a drug and alcohol-free event.

Mark your calendars; come listen to the drums and come rock your moccs with us!!
Please share broadly with community, friends and family!

Connect with Courtney Thomas if you have any questions; cthomas@banac.on.ca
If you have questions, you can call direct at 705-795-3371 or through the clinic 705-721-9554 ext 3
We hope to see you there!

Natural Remedies to Support Healthy Living
2025-11-17
Hello all, Barrie Area Native Advisory Circle and Chippewas of RAMA First Nation invites you to a homemade cold & flu remedies Workshop. Join us for a hands-on experience hosted by Georgina Island’s very own Heather McIntyre, where you’ll learn how to make traditional and natural remedies to support your wellness during cold and flu season. We will be meeting in the lower level kitchen of the
When: November 17th
Location: 6036 Rama Road, Rama (lower level kitchen of the Mnoyaawgmig building)
Time: 1pm to 3pm and 5pm to 7pm
Please register for this event using one of the two links provided.
1pm to 3 pm –> Natural Remedies to Support Healthy Living 1pm to 3pm
5pm to 7pm –> Natural Remedies to Support Healthy Living 5pm to 7pm

For more information contact Bawd at belliott@banca.on.ca or Julie at julies@ramafirstnation.ca
We hope to see you there!

TH Esstin Mcleod Session's (Medicine Healer)
2025-11-17 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)
2025-11-18 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
2025-11-18 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

Mino Miijim "Good Food" Roots of Wellness Series
2025-11-19 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 required to allow for the planning needed in purchasing food
To register scan the QR code in poster OR follow the link below OR link at the bottom of this page under (website)
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
