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!