Indigenous Arts and Cultural Learning Series - Painting

Popular Indigenous Arts and Cultural Learning Series Returns with Three Additional Workshops

Following an enthusiastic response and strong community interest, Kaswentha Two Row Now is pleased to announce three additional Indigenous arts and cultural learning workshops led by Christin Dennis, a Knowledge Carrier from Aamjiwnaang First Nation (Chippewas of Sarnia First Nation), also known by his traditional name Gzhiiquot (Fast Moving Cloud).

Hosted at The Gathering Place at The Falstaff Family Centre and made possible through funding support from United Way Perth-Huron, the additional sessions will provide more community members with the opportunity to experience the same engaging hands-on workshops that were so well received earlier this summer.

The three new workshops will take place from 6:00–9:00 p.m. on:

• Wednesday, August 19 — Dream Catcher Making Workshop
• Wednesday, August 26 — Bone Choker Workshop
• Wednesday, September 2 — Painting Workshop

Dennis is a member of Kaswentha Two Row Now, a Stratford-area collective of Indigenous educators, local businesses, health agencies, social service organizations, and community members committed to advancing learning, understanding, and reconciliation.

An accomplished visual artist, Dennis describes his work as a reflection on contemporary Indigenous culture and the enduring importance of traditional teachings.

"My art reflects our current era in Aboriginal culture, focusing on the sweat lodge and carrying on the traditions of old into the contemporary world. I tell the story of our heritage and the importance of preserving traditional values. I use mixed media with photography as a visual demonstration of the blending of traditional images with 21st-century technology. By understanding and embracing our ancestral past, we can use those teachings to preserve a way of life, document its core values, and build a vision for our future."

Each workshop is designed to foster learning, creativity, and cultural understanding while giving participants the opportunity to learn directly from a First Nations Knowledge Carrier and artist in a welcoming, hands-on environment.

Advance registration is required, and participation is limited to 20 people per workshop.