Celebrate the Autumn Equinox with us + 2S Oji-Cree Elder, Ma-Nee Chacaby, at the SHIFT Centre, Concordia.
We will (re)connect with mistikwaskihk, the big drum, nikamowina, our songs, and feast our drums as we honour this change of season. Equinox is a sacred time of transition, a time of taking care of ourselves, one another, and the land.
Our feast will be opened by Kanien’kehá:ka Elder Sedalia Kawennotas Fazio, followed by feasting our drums together, drum teachings, and song sharing.
Register here: https://forms.gle/a9H1u8ZBFGcuypu96
While we are prioritizing 2S & Indigiqueer kin who have attended our Drum Circles or IFRC events previously, a waiting list will be created for all Indigenous relatives interested in joining us for this celebration. Waitlisted people will be notified in the week leading up to the event regarding availability.
DATE: Friday, September 26, 2025
TIME: 12:30 - 4:30 PM
LOCATION: SHIFT Centre, LB-145, 1400 de Maisonneuve Blvd. W., Concordia
ACCESSIBILITY INFO: Wheelchair accessible. Gender-neutral bathrooms on the same floor. Hand sanitizer and masks will be available. Please stay home and rest if you have any signs of sickness.
Photos will be taken during the event, not for widespread use, but rather to document this gathering for future promotion + archival purposes.
BIOS
Ma-Nee Chacaby is a Two-Spirit Ojibwe-Cree Elder, storyteller, and artist, who inspires young and old alike with her ongoing dedication and commitment to healing, activism, and uplifting 2Spirit community.
Ma-Nee has faced numerous challenges in her life that have prompted her to embark on a path of spiritual healing through art. She was born in Thunder Bay, Ontario and was adopted by a French Canadian family. She was then found and returned home to her Cree kokum at the age of two to be raised in a remote Ojibwe community north of Lake Nipigon. Being a two-spirit Elder and storyteller, she uses various media for personal and community spiritual healing. She is visually impaired and her art tells a story of the journey people face each day. Ma-Nee has also authored, A Two-Spirit Journey: The Autobiography of a Lesbian Ojibwa-Cree Elder; a compelling and harrowing, but ultimately uplifting story of resilience and self-discovery. To learn more about her book, visit https://uofmpress.ca/books/a-two-spirit-journey
We will also have a few copies available onsite for purchase!
Sedalia Kawennotas Fazio, native Kahnawake, is a very active elder within the Kanien’kehá:ka (Mohawk) community. She is frequently invited as Elder and speaker in public events, conferences, and seminars. She represents and defends Autochthons’ rights in Canada.
This gathering is made possible with generous support from:
Trellis Microgrant (ELAN)
Indigenous Healing Knowledges Research Chair
Black, Indigenous Harm Reduction Alliance
Indigenous Futures Research Centre
SHIFT Centre for Social Transformation