September/October & May 2024  - Indigenous Games
February 2024 - Winter Indigenous Games

​Kahnyen’kehàka (Mohawk), Turtle Clan from Six Nations of the Grand River, Dallas Squire is a former professional Lacrosse player who has been sharing culture and games for over a decade. Creating a safe and positive environment for learning, Dallas encourages participants to experience the culture through traditional games and storytelling. 

February/March 2025 - Sweetwater Program

Moose Cree/Métis
"Good day, people familiar with me call me “Grumpy” as a name not my character. Enjoyment for me comes from being with family and having learning experiences in natural surroundings, particularly woodlands and rivers. Our family has travelled extensively mainly for work and educational enrichment. In the past 2o years or so we have dedicated our efforts to educating families on the teachings of The Sweet Water Philosophy (Siwakamin). These opportunities bring people closer to relationships, resources and respect in the surroundings of the woodlands. As we all experience the benefits of a healthy bushland, we all learn that it is simple and honest; providing us with courage, truth, humility and honesty. Our opportunity to share and give thanks builds a better future."

April 7 - 11, 2025

Joseph Pitawanakwat (Ojibway from Wiikwemkoong) is the founder and director of Creator's Garden, an Indigenous outdoor education business focused on plant identification, beyond-sustainable harvesting, and plant linguistic, historical, cultural, edible, ecological, and medicinal significance through hands-on experiences. Joe and his fellow land-based educators offer land-based education on Indigenous plant knowledge and Indigenous bird names and knowledge. Their goal is to shift conventional paradigms of how we see and understand and manage the Great Lakes region. They see the high value of Indigenous knowledge as an opportunity to increase human and environmental health, simultaneously. 

May 20 - 23, 2025 - Indigenous Arts & Beading

Naomi is an Indigenous Artist, Maker and Educator from Neyaashiinigmiing (Chippewas of Nawash). She has for over 20 years shared traditional teachings with various communities and groups. Her work focuses on the ways of the Indigenous people of the Great Lakes region from a historical and contemporary perspective often through the story of beads. Naomi's artwork embraces ancestral designs using quillwork, beadwork and other indigenous methods and materials. She has exhibited her work across Canada and internationally.

Artist statement:
"Honouring our traditions is my voice within and beyond my Culture and Community. Traditionally there is no word for "art" in Native languages yet artistry and visual expression are critical in defining who we are as Indigenous people. It is this path I wish to exemplify through my teachings and my work."

May 5 - 9, June 2-6 2025

Wild Ontario is an environmental and science education program in the Department of Integrative Biology at the University of Guelph. Through our educational activities both on-campus and in the community, we work to foster connections with nature and an interest in science. Their presentation at Akinomaagayegaamikoong will enable students to see and interact with real birds of prey and learn about their characteristics, needs, and habitats as well as the importance of protecting habitat for all species.

June 9 - 12, 2025

Jennifer was born in Ottawa and raised in Ottawa, Toronto & Guelph. She is married with three adult children and four grandchildren. Exploring her Métis heritage has been very exciting. She has found many extended family and a few historical figures along the way. Her traditional homelands include Pembina, North Dakota and Red River, Manitoba. Says Jennifer, "My hope is to continue learning more about my Métis heritage and to contribute by getting involved in my community." Jennifer sought to learn more about her Métis roots so she started attending local Indigenous community events. She became very active and, since 2010, Jennifer has expanded and shared her knowledge with thousands of children each year by going into schools, colleges and universities. Today, Jennifer is very active politically, meeting with various proponents, government officials and government ministries, all in the pursuit of solidifying Métis citizens' rights in Canada. Jennifer continues to enjoy her journey.

June 9 - 12, 2025
Leslie's Métis ancestry is from the west in Manitoba and Pembina ND. She was born in Halifax, NS but raised for a little time in Fort Frances, ON. It was here that her grandfather, without uttering a word about their heritage, taught Leslie and her siblings. As time goes by her grandfather's teachings have started to make sense, as Leslie has learned more about her Métis culture and roots. Searching for her heritage and history she has discovered that her relatives include Uncle Cuthbert Grant Jr., Uncle Gabriel Dumont, and cousin Louis Riel. Leslie was raised mainly in Nunavut on Baffin Island and the Northwest Territories where she attended residential school in Fort Smith & Inuvik. Leslie enjoys going into schools all over the Grand River Council area. Grand River Council citizens are teaching Métis history, music, dance & culture to all ages. Leslie is firm in her belief of the importance that we, as a community, learn what we can of our own history and culture and share it with our youth.