Talking Circles - Help Bring Aboriginal Voice to Durham Region

Oshawa Community Health Centre would like to issue an invitation to people of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit ancestry living in the Durham Region and surrounding areas to speak about the Health and Wellness Needs for Aboriginal peoples

• What services and programs are needed in the Durham Region to support your health and wellness needs?

• Where can you go to access health and wellness services that can meet your needs? We are looking for input from the Aboriginal community. This is a unique opportunity to let us know how we can assist the Aboriginal community with their health and wellness needs.

Medicine Wheel Garden

Oshawa Community Health Centre plans to introduce a Healing Garden to our grounds.  Oshawa Community Health Centre envisions the Medicine Wheel Garden as a place for quiet mediation and personal reflection. The garden includes the four sacred medicines. Each of the medicines will be planted in the directions respecting the teachings of the Anishnaabe people indigenous to this territory.

Durham Region Aboriginal Gathering Series

On Saturday, YWCA Durham hosted the first in a series of Big Drum Socials planned for the year. Over one hundred people attended the afternoon event. Native Canadian Centre of Toronto brought their big drum and the women's drum group, All Our Creation, presented during the afternoon. There were crafts and activities for youth and families. Traditional foods including moose and venison stew, breads, fruits and cedar tea were available for everyone who attended. Many community sponsors were also on hand to provide and/or speak with members of the Aboriginal communities about services and programs presently being offered. Our sponsors included: Oshawa Community Health Centre, Durham District School Board, UOIT, YWCA, YMCA, Region of Durham, and Durham College.

Please see event calander for upcoming events.

We look forward to expanding to other relevant programming as our needs assessment survey results come in. For more information contact:

Bill Littlefair
Aboriginal Assessment Facilitator
905-723-0036 x 279
blittlefair@ochc.ca