01/15/2025
To: Our beautiful Georgian Bay Two Spirit Pow Wow family,
I am writing to you on behalf of the youth of Manidoo Gamiing Nagweyaab Jiintamok (formerly Georgian Bay Two Spirit Pow Wow).
With a full heart, I am happy to say my vision has come to life by the incredible work of community love and care.
As a youth committee, we have decided to disband and continue doing meaningful work in our community as young 2SLGBTQQIAPP+ people and commit to much smaller, more frequent activities to better sustain our work as community helpers. We see a much larger need for consistent work rather than 1 annual event.
That being said, we would like to thank the following for their support over the past 7 years as our mentors: Spirit and our ancestors (each and every day), Tori & Marty Cress, Flint Grant, Beze Gray, Hunter Cascagnette, Vicki Monague, Roseanne Monague, Sarah Monague, Jeff Monague, Alison Bradshaw, Mary Jane King-baa, Sylvia Norton-Baa, Ruth Quesnelle, John Rice, David Gerald, Blu Waters, Shirley John, Karen Houle, Kim McCullough, Michele Perpaul, Sue Croweagle, Nenookaasi Ochrym, and many more.
Special thanks to the staff at M’Wikwedong Indigenous Friendship Centre and Georgian Bay Native Friendship Centre for their support in planning this event as young people. Chi miigwech to Compton Khan, Executive Director at Georgian Bay Native Friendship Centre, for his generosity and care as we started this event back in 2018. We would like to thank the following staff: Erin Chiblow, Curtis Copegog, Jennifer Fournier, and Jessie Monague.
M’Wikwedong Indigenous Friendship Centre has been our co-host and organizational mentor for the past 2 years. Chi miigwech to our strong leader Renee Abram (Executive Director at M’Wikwedong Indigenous Friendship Centre) for her support and love in bringing our community together in a kind and nurturing space. We would also like to thank the following staff: Karen, Rachel, Adrienne, Mara, Ronnie, Casie, Chris, Barb, Kyanna, Tanya, Margaret, Bonnie, Wendy, Steve, Jenn, Brenda, and Craig.
Special shout-out to 2 former M’Wikwedong staff members: Paul Kirk-baa and Sharon Isaac-baa for their endless love and support. Especially Paul who had to deal with too many Amazon purchases on account of Thunder not having a vehicle for supply runs. Rest in power - we’ll see you both on the other side. We will bring golf clubs, craft supplies, and laughter.
Big ups to our friends and colleagues, Hayley Moody and Jay Bird for all their help this past year. We couldn’t have done it without you!
And to our funders, we appreciate the ongoing support from the following: Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres (OFIFC), Ontario Arts Council, Laidlaw Foundation, NIB Trust, Groundswell Change Corporation, and Rising Youth (Via TakingITGlobal). Forgive us for any names we may have forgotten. We would also like to acknowledge our many donors including Sacred Seeds Collective, Fierte Simcoe Pride, Gilbert Centre, and our many community partners. Chi miigwech for your allyship and contributions, as they do not go unnoticed.
Nimiigwechiwendam to each of our devoted volunteers over the years. Without you, we wouldn't be where we are and I certainly would not still be earth side. Your commitment to the young 2S people organizing this event has been an act of love, life-promotion, and su***de prevention. Chi miigwech for all you do, but especially for being YOU. We need more safe adults like you.
We look forward to sharing space with you all and connecting in the community during future endeavors. For Manidoo Gamiing Nagweyaab Jiintamok, this is farewell. Fortunately, as the youth organizers, this is gga-waabamin (I will see you). We’ll see you later.
With love.
Thunder Sharma
Founder of Manidoo Gamiing Nagweyaab Jiintamok
