2025 Events
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Friday June 20 2025, 12:30pm | Georgian Bay Native Friendship Centre Pow Wow |
| Saturday June 21 2025, 12:30pm | Georgian Bay Native Friendship Centre Pow Wow |
| Saturday June 21 2025, 1:00pm | National Indigenous People's Day Community BBQ |
| Wednesday June 25 2025, 3:00pm | Regional Indigenous Musicians & Community Fire |
| Wednesday June 25 2025, 9:30pm | Lawn Chair Luminata | National Indigenous History Month |
Community Resources
Mamaway Wiidokdaadwin: Primary Care Team honours Indigenous wellness through culturally grounded, collaborative primary health care. Mamaway Wiidokdaadwin means “everyone helps" which comes from the vision of seeing many people around an individual supporting them by holding them in their hands – together, the hands help keep the individual straight and tall.
Barrie Area Native Advisory Circle (BANAC): BANAC serves as a regional social health and planning organization functioning as an incubator of ideas in areas where a strong regional voice is needed. Their current initiatives include Indigenous community development in the areas of childcare, health planning, social development, and support to seniors and families.
Resources:
Since 1987, the Barrie Native Friendship Centre (BNFC) has been improving the quality of life for all Indigenous people in the area by providing a gathering place that promotes unity and wholistic healing through culturally based programs, services, and teachings.
Red Quills delivers cultural sharing and provides services to non-Indigenous sectors to build meaningful relationships with the Indigenous community through partnership and joint ventures. The road to reconciliation is knowing the Indigenous history of Simcoe County and understanding each other through the rich Indigenous culture of this area.
The Urban Inuit Identity Project provides education for community builders, healthcare and social services about the cultural uniqueness of Inuit and support that empowers Inuit identity.
BPL offers learning opportunities about Indigenous history, culture, and people. Resources and programming include reading recommendations for both adults and children, family activities and Storytime, National Film Board short film screenings, and more. Check out their calendar to search for more opportunities.
Book Lists
Resources for Learning
In addition to the links above, below are other resources to help you learn about Indigenous peoples, culture, and heritage:
- Regional Indigenous organizations, including: The Biminaawzogin Regional Aboriginal Women's Circle (BRAWC); Dnaagdawenmag Binnoojiiyag Child & Family Serivices; Enaahtig Healing Lodge & Learning Centre; Georgian Bay Native Women's Association; Georgian Bay Native Friendship Centre; and Orillia Native Women's Group
- Resources available through non-Indigenous led organizations: Canadian Mental Health Association Cultural Resources, Catulpa Community Services FNMI Facilitator, Chigamik Community Health Centre, Georgian College Indigenous Studies & Resource Centre, EarlyON Indigenous Coordinator, and Empower Simcoe Indigenous Housing Worker
- Indigenous health resources, including Jordan's Principle, Indigenous Diabetes Health Circle, Non-Insured Health Benefits for First Nations and Inuit
- Anishinabek Nation
- Métis Nation of Ontario
- Sainte-Marie Among the Hurons, Huronia Historical Parks
- Native-Land.ca - A resource to learn more about the lands we're on and the history of those lands.
- National Centre for Truth & Reconciliation including the Truth & Reconciliation Commission Reports
- Spirit Bear's Guide to the Truth & Reconciliation Calls to Action
- Legacy of Hope Foundation - National, Indigenous-led organization working to promote healing and reconciliation through education about the history and intergenerational impacts of the Residential School System, Sixties Scoop, and the impact on survivors, their descendants, and communities. Resources include a variety of videos, podcasts.
- University of Alberta Indigenous Canada - A free, online course that explores Indigenous histories and contemporary issues from an Indigenous perspective.
- National Film Board - An extensive list of free films, including Indigenous voices and residential schools
- Government of Canada National Indigenous History Month (June)
Each June we acknowledge National Indigenous History Month and National Indigenous Peoples Day (June 21) with opportunities to learn, engage, and celebrate.
In collaboration with the Mamaway Wiidokdaadwin Primary Care Team from the Barrie Area Native Advisory Circle, Barrie Native Friendship Centre, the Downtown Barrie BIA, and the Barrie Public Library, we celebrate the rich heritage, diverse cultures, and significant contributions of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples with a variety of programs throughout the month of June.
Funded in part by the Government of Canada.
Land Acknowledgement
We acknowledge the traditional territory of the Anishinaabeg people, which include the Odawa, Ojibwe, and Pottawatomi Nations collectively known as the Three Fires Confederacy. We also acknowledge the Wendat Nation (Huron) who occupied these lands prior to the middle of the 17th century.
We are dedicated to honouring Indigenous history and culture and recognize the enduring presence of Indigenous peoples on this land. We are committed to moving forward in the spirit of reconciliation and respect with all First Nations, Métis, and Inuit People.