The 3rd Onjisay Aki Gathering of Elders, Youth and Scientists will take place at the Turtle Lodge in Sagkeeng First Nation on February 26th and 27th, 2018. 

This gathering will bring together Elders, Youth and Mentors from 4 Manitoba First Nations - Sagkeeng, Norway House, Bloodvein, and Biigtigong First Nations, to gather with Scientists.  Our focus will be the development of an Indigenous-led regional ancestral school of knowledge. 

The gathering follows from the previous Onjisay Aki International Climate Summit (2017) and the Onjisay Aki Youth Summit (2016), as well as the Gathering of Indigenous Knowledge Keepers and Scientists (2017) and the two recent Regional Indigenous-led Conservation and Nationhood Gatherings in Manitoba.

Specifically, the direction for a regional ancestral school of knowledge has developed through the Onjisay Aki intiative. At the 2nd International Onjisay Aki Climate Summit held at Turtle Lodge in June 2017, participants agreed on 12 Onjisay Aki Climate Calls to Action.  Several of the Calls to Action focused on reconnecting young people to the Earth and her teachings, or natural laws, as well as to their own identity and gifts that could enable them to become guardians or stewards of the land.

Onjisay Aki Call to Action #2 specifically referred to supporting the development of Ancestral Schools of Knowledge:

In September 2017, at the Gathering of Indigenous Knowledge Keepers and Scientists at Turtle Lodge, chaired by Elder Dave Courchene and David Suzuki, an agreement, the Turtle Lodge Declaration, was written and ceremonially ratified by Knowledge Keepers and Scientists, in which a commitment was made:

The 3rd Onjisay Aki Gathering aims to build upon the direction that has been given, and develop the curriculum for the Ancestral Schools of Knowledge.