Engaging with a community in a meaningful way is no small feat. In fact, it can be an incredibly delicate balancing act to organize a memorable event with the promise of an enjoyable evening, while also being informative and productive.
On Saturday, June 3, the Coalition for Unity, Respect, Equality/Equity for All (CUREA) attempted to do just that with their first ever Gemini Gala at the Civic Complex in Cornwall, Ont.,
The community of Cornwall resides on the traditional territory of the Mohawks of Akwesasne.
The Mohawk Nation of Akwesasne is just across the river and is divided across three geopolitical jurisdictions and two different Indigenous governments: the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne, and the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe (SRMT). Together they cover land that is now a part of Canada and its provinces of Ontario and Quebec, and the U.S. state of New York.
Like all Indigenous communities across Canada, the Mohawks of Akwesasne have had to confront a history of colonialism and the ongoing impacts of Canada’s residential school system. It is this history that CUREA hoped to share with and educate the settler community in Cornwall at their Gemini Gala.
A gala event that addressed serious issues
The gala featured guest speakers and panels where leaders and community members from Akwesasne and Cornwall came together to share stories of personal experience and to discuss how both communities could work together to move forward and heal.
Kashenni:iostha is the president of CUREA. Kashenni:iostha is Mohawk and a third generation residential school survivor and the first generation of her family not to attend an Indian Day School. She suffers from intergenerational trauma, including anxiety and depression.
On the goal of the gala, she had this to say:
“The goal of the Gemini Gala was to bring the topic of truth and reconciliation back into the forefront of everyone’s minds … I wanted to make sure that people remember and realize that truth and reconciliation is not just a bandwagon to hop on for some likes and recognition. I wanted people to walk away feeling and knowing that truth and reconciliation is more than wearing an orange t-shirt on September 30, and for all the non-Indigenous to understand that us Indigenous people wear our orange shirts every day of our lives.”
Gala guest speakers included St. Regis Mohawk Tribe Chief Chief Ron Lafrance Jr., who talked about how his father and grandfather attended a residential school and how that impacted his family; and Dean George, who himself is a residential school survivor.
George works with the Akwesasronon Shonatatenron – The Residential School Survivors of Akwesasne, a group dedicated to researching the impacts of residential schools on the Akwesasne community and supporting survivors.
A fun celebration of local diverse artists
CUREA ended their gala with a fashion show featuring designs from diverse artists including Farrah David, Lou Jeune and Akwesasne’s own Tina Thompson. They chose to end the night on a high note with the fashion show and to celebrate diverse and local artists.
“Now that it has been a few days since the Gemini Gala, I am left feeling accomplished,” said Kashenni:iostha. “I did not host the gala for recognition, but to bring non-Indigenous and Indigenous leaders together. Introducing the SRMT to the Cornwall leaders was my main goal outside the topic of truth and reconciliation, because I believe it is important for Cornwall to know and understand that Akwesasne has an American portion to the reservation – but still apart of Akwesasne – and I want to see a relationship with Cornwall and SRMT grow.”
Kashenni:iostha said that CUREA has already been receiving requests for more educational resources as a result of the event.
Important lessons on organizing a successful community event
The Gemini Gala was an event that paired serious deep conversation and education with a celebration of local art and community connections.
Kashenni:iostha said that the one bit of advice she would give to other groups hoping to plan a similar successful event would be to form a planning committee and seek expertise outside of their own board of directors.
“I am thankful for the committee I formed with Shannon Ferguson, Rebecca Sorrell-Forrester, Ashlee Murray-Michaud and Tara Chandran,” she said. “Without those ladies and their encouragement, friendly motivation and their personal experience with event planning after my father passed away Jan 10, 2023, I do not think I would have been able to pull together such a successful event. Also, do not give up! Go out in the community and talk to people, business and organizations.”
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