Honouring the work: Ceremony with White Buffalo Road Healing Lodge, and nandawejigewin gamig
November 2025
This past autumn, Mamow Ahyamowen reached out to Dr. Joey-Lynn Wabie and the team at nandawejigewin gamig (nandawe) for guidance and support in holding the third of four Ceremonies for the Alliance. The intention was to feast the name, honour the current projects, and acknowledge the people behind the data we work with.
Joey-Lynn kindly agreed to assist the Mamow Team and connected the team with Elders Vince Pawis and Donna Longlad from White Buffalo Road Healing Lodge (WBRHL). Elders Vince and Donna graciously agreed to conduct the Ceremony and offered their lodge in Shawanaga First Nation. The two-day gathering in early November included facilitated team building, followed by the Ceremony.
The Ceremony provided the team with time to reflect on the work we do and to recognize the dedication and collaboration that make the work possible. During the Ceremony, everyone had the opportunity to reflect on the importance of culture, community, and Ceremony in guiding the work of all three organizations (nandawe, WBRHL, and Mamow Ahyamowen).
The gathering and Ceremony reinforced the Alliance’s commitment to community-driven health initiatives and First Nation Data Sovereignty. It reminded the Support Staff of the importance of collaboration for the Alliance as a whole. It also served as a reminder that the work of the Alliance is grounded not only in data and research, but also in respect, relationships, and the values of the communities we serve.
Chi-miigwech to Elders Vince and Donna for guiding us through Ceremony, and to Joey-Lynn and the team at nandawe for helping us to plan our retreat.