Mikanah Gatherings — Winnipeg End-of-Summer Gathering
On September 2, 2026, Winnipeg Boldness hosted our end-of-summer Mikanah Gathering at Kapabamayak Achaak Healing Forest in St. Johns Park.
Our friends Jeremy, Nathan, and Nathan's two sons shared their gifts with us. Teachings were shared about drumming, and everyone was guided through song, bringing community members together through a shared experience.
Mikanah Gatherings create space for community to gather, learn, share, and strengthen connections with one another. These gatherings are grounded in the belief that communities already hold the knowledge, strengths, and relationships needed to support collective wellbeing and create community-led pathways to wellness.
A special thank you to Jeremy, Nathan, and his sons for sharing their gifts through drumming and singing, and to Dr. Jon McGavock and the University of Manitoba for their continued partnership. Miigwech to everyone who gathered with us, shared, listened, and contributed to the afternoon!
Mikanah Gatherings — Winnipeg Summer Solstice Gathering
On July 6, 2026, Winnipeg Boldness hosted the first Winnipeg Mikanah Gathering at Michaelle Jean Parc.
We shared food, laughter, and time on the land. Guided by Grandmother Helen, teachings were shared about medicines, and community members created their own medicine bags, carrying home both teachings and connections.
At the heart of Mikanah Gatherings is a simple but powerful belief: communities already hold the knowledge, strengths, and solutions needed to support collective wellbeing. By creating space to gather, learn, share, and reconnect with culture in urban environments, we strengthen belonging, self-determination, and community-led pathways to wellness.
Miigwech to everyone who joined us, shared their gifts, and helped create a welcoming space for one another. A special thank you to Grandmother Helen for sharing her time, knowledge, and teachings.
Mikanah Gatherings — Brandon Summer Solstice Gathering
On June 13, 2026, we welcomed over 40 youth and parents to the Riverbank Discovery Centre in Brandon for our Summer Mikanah Gathering. Participants took part in a sequence of land-based teachings centred on the tipi, water, and drum.
Teachings were shared about the protocols and significance of setting up a tipi, the meaning water holds in our daily lives, and the importance of the drum as a source of wellness.
Thank you to everyone who attended, supported, and contributed to this meaningful summer gathering!
Mikanah Gatherings — Brandon Spring Event
In February 2026, we welcomed over 200 students to the Riverbank Discovery Centre in Brandon. Students came from Brandon School Division, Southwest Horizon School Division, Sioux Valley School, and Northlight Learning Consortium.
Students visited learning stations about Indigenous spring equinox teachings, Métis land-based traditions like hunting, trapping, and the Michif language, and outdoor winter safety. They also took part in fun activities like snowshoeing, shelter building, slingshots, ice suncatcher making, and sitting around fire pits.
Everyone enjoyed hot chocolate from Chez Angela, and knowledge carriers, volunteers, and staff were treated to a warm lunch of soup and hot dogs.
A big thank you to everyone who made this event possible:
- Knowledge keepers Debbie Huntinghawk, Chris Leforte, and Stephen Petrie
- Volunteers Ross Robinson, Mike McPhee, and Debbi Neufeld
- Aurora Reunification Village and the Good Hearted Warriors for the firewood
- Brandon Search and Rescue
- Organizers Raven Willoughby and Dezarae Bodnar
- Funders: Brandon School Division, University of Manitoba, and CIHR
Mikanah Gatherings: Project Launch
In February 2026, the Mikanah Gatherings team came together to officially launch the project. We finalized our survey questions and confirmed plans to host gatherings in all three cities — Winnipeg, Brandon, and Selkirk.
Mikanah Gatherings brings Indigenous communities together through land-based activities tied to the four seasons. Our events are free, family-friendly, and held outdoors on local trails and green spaces. Each gathering includes teachings, activities, and time to connect with the land and each other.
We are excited to get started and look forward to seeing our communities come together throughout 2026!