Circle Teachings Publishing

01/19/2024

Our 2024 calendars are out and available for sale! We have the same stories you know and love plus a calendar grid for the new year. As a reminder, we offer bulk discounts for everyone, including on mix-and-match orders! Check out our website for more details: https://www.circleteachings.ca/store/Stories-from-the-kohkoms-I-p110418644

Give us a call if you have story or calendar ideas for 2025! You can reach us at 780-452-0601. We love to publish bespoke community calendars in addition to our publicly available lineup!

03/17/2023

Booth Announcement! Circle Teachings is going to be at the Moving Forward on the Pathways to Justice Gathering for MMIGW2S+ at the Edmonton Inn & Conference Centre on March 20 and 21 (Monday and Tuesday).

This event is hosted by the IAAW - Institute for the Advancement of Aboriginal Women and the Awo Taan Healing Lodge Society. Come by to see presentations on MMIWG2S+ and learn about actions being taken to address them. 👗

03/10/2023

Some new graphic design art from our team! Keep an eye out for this image in upcoming promotional materials 👀

Calendars are available for purchase on our website at circleteachings.ca, and you can sign up for our newsletter to stay in the loop!

03/03/2023

Looking to make new connections? So are we! If you've been enjoying our content here, connect with us on LinkedIn or sign up for our monthly newsletter. You'll get updates on our latest activities, current projects, and upcoming sales.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/circleteachings/
Newsletter Sign-Up: https://www.circleteachings.ca/

If you're enjoying our content, let us know! Your review could be featured on our website and social media!

Thank you very much to all of our wonderful friends, customers, and connections!

02/24/2023

As February winds to a close, we are hopeful that this spring will be the breath of fresh air we need to reinvigorate our creativity. Reconnecting with our past and current authors is an important step towards collaborating on future projects, and springtime is the perfect setting for it.

If your community is interested in working with us on a custom calendar or other multimedia project, now is the time to contact us! This is the ideal time of year to begin work in order to have a finished project ready for 2024.

In the meantime, we hope you continue to enjoy our current publications, whose authors we treasure and appreciate! Explore our website, circleteachings.ca, to learn more.

02/10/2023

IAAW is honoured to partner with Awo Taan Healing Lodge Society on this gathering. The event is now free! To register for the event, click: bit.ly/IAAW-AWOTAAN

02/03/2023

February in Canada is Black History Month. Circle Teachings stands in solidarity with Black Canadians, who face both historic and modern discrimination and oppression. We will always advocate for the equality, rights, and justice owed to marginalized BIPOC groups in Canada. This is a month to celebrate the accomplishments of Black Canadians, to imagine a better future, and to remember the past.

01/27/2023

With the first month of 2023 almost gone, we’ve been reflecting on the amazing things we were a part of in 2022. We are so thankful to our community and friends for their incredible support, wisdom, and guidance.

We hope that 2023 is looking just as bright for you as it is for us, and we would like to offer our sincere thanks to everyone who helped us get here. Thank you, from The Circle Teachings Team.

We have been involved in a variety of publishing projects throughout 2022 which will soon be available in 2023, including two books! An official announcement with titles, details, and more will be coming soon.

Photo by Olivier Prt on Flickr, https://flic.kr/p/2gzSRTh

01/13/2023

Even in the middle of winter, Edmonton is bustling with outdoor activities for all ages! If you're looking for ways to get out and enjoy some sun and fresh air this month, there is plenty to do. Did you know that January 15 is World Snow Day, or that Lunar New Year is on January 22? Check out these incredible opportunities in our community:

19th Annual Ice on Whyte Festival: https://www.todocanada.ca/city/edmonton/event/ice-on-whyte-festival/

Deep Freeze 2023: https://www.todocanada.ca/city/edmonton/event/deep-freeze-byzantine-winter-festival/

World Snow Day Celebration: https://www.todocanada.ca/city/edmonton/event/world-snow-day-strathcona-county/

Lunar New Year Festival: https://www.todocanada.ca/city/edmonton/event/lunar-new-year-festival/

Ice on Whyte Festival : When , Where, ticket cost,coupons, directions, Sleigh rides & more!

01/06/2023

Haven't gotten your calendar for 2023 yet? Luckily, our 2023 calendars are still in stock and available for purchase! Check out our website, circleteachings.ca to order yours today.

01/01/2023

Happy New Year! Whether you celebrated the start of the year on the solstice or today, Circle Teachings wishes you well for 2023! Today marks the first day of many of the calendars we sell, and we hope all of our customers enjoy unwrapping and diving into them. We thank you all very much for your support.

12/25/2022

Merry Christmas to all who celebrate! ☃

12/24/2022

It's Christmas Eve! Circle Teachings wishes Happy Holidays to everyone who celebrates, and warm wishes to all! ☃️❄️☃️

12/21/2022

Circle Teachings wishes everyone a warm and cozy Winter Solstice. We hope you have a long night full of reflection and time spent with loved ones.

Photo by wapiti8 on Flickr, https://flic.kr/p/BUTgej

12/16/2022

Spend a week ice fishing and learning firsthand from Métis harvesters!

The Askîy Youth Monitor Contest will give four Métis youth aged 18-29 a chance to learn sustainable harvesting practices and scientific methods to monitor fish health at Alberta lakes, Feb. 21-25, 2023. Accommodations and meal expenses will be covered.

To enter, submit a 500-word essay on, “What would being part of the Askîy Youth Guardians team and participating in Fish Health Monitoring mean to you?”
Entries must be emailed to [email protected] by 11:59 p.m. MDT on December 31, 2022.

To download the contest form and for more details, visit https://albertametis.com/askiy-youth-monitor-contest

12/10/2022

Some great events are coming up next week! We hope you enjoy going out and spending time in the community. It's especially important in the dark, cold winter months to surround yourself with your neighbours and friends.

12/01/2022

Circle Teachings is here for the holidays! We're going to be selling calendars, posters, and more at the Yellowhead Tribal College Holiday Fair and Market tomorrow from 10am-6pm.



Yellowhead Tribal College: https://www.facebook.com/YTCollege/?ref=page_internal

11/18/2022

The Circle Teachings Team was so honoured to attend the Okimaw Awards today at City Hall! We were so deeply touched by the wonderful acceptance speeches of the recipients, and we were blessed to meet such amazing men. We look forward to the many more awards ceremonies to follow in the upcoming years!

11/16/2022

Louis Riel Day falls on November 16th every year, as this is the date he was hanged for treason in 1885. On Louis Riel Day, we celebrate and commemorate the strength and resilience of the Métis People while recognizing their historic and continuing hardships. This year, the Métis Nation of Alberta is currently voting on a new Constitution to reinforce their right to self-government and self-determination. Show support for them by voting if you are eligible, and attending Métis Week events to learn more about their unique history and culture.

Resources to learn more:

https://albertametis.com/
https://www.edmonton.ca/attractions_events/schedule_festivals_events/metis-week
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Riel

Check out our calendar, Stories from the Métis of St. Albert, to learn about about the history of Métis in Alberta. https://www.circleteachings.ca/store/Stories-from-the-M%C3%A9tis-of-St-Albert-p125491104

Photo: Alex Kusturok is in Rome supporting Metis survivors with music. Taken on March 30, 2022 by Michael Swan, https://flic.kr/p/2nbMbvm

11/08/2022

November 8th is Indigenous Veteran's Day. Historically and modernly, FNMI veterans have fought both for and against the Canadian military, always steadfastly advocating for their rights, their territories, and justice on the local and international scale. Indigenous veterans have often been excluded from traditional Remembrance Day celebrations, denied the same benefits and honours as other veterans in Canada. Today, we remember them with the honour and respect they deserve.



Photo #1: Studio portrait of the surviving Six Nations warriors who fought with the British in the War of 1812” (Note from Library and Archives Canada: Photography did not exist during the War of 1812, but was invented by the time veterans John Smoke Johnson (aged 93), John Tutlee (aged 91) and Jacob Warner (aged 92) were old men in 1882. A draped British flag honours the veterans, who hold First Nations symbols of their war service.) Source: Library and Archives Canada on Flickr, https://www.flickr.com/photos/lac-bac/6836781189/in/photostream/

Photo #2: Pte. Tom Longboat buying a paper from a little French newspaper boy. June, 1917. Note from Library and Archives Canada: “Cogwagee (Thomas Charles Longboat) was a famous long-distance runner. He was an Onandaga, from the Six Nations of the Grand River First Nation reserve near Brantford, Ontario. He is at far right."

Photo #3: Private Mary Greyeyes, Cree, from Muskeg Lake Cree Nation. She was the first Indigenous woman to join the modern Canadian Armed Forces, and she served in World War II. The man is Harry Ball, Piapot First Nation. This photo was taken on September 29, 1942. Source: Library and Archives Canada, https://recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/home/record?app=FonAndCol&IdNumber=3194496

Photo #4: All members of the ship's company of HMCS Crescent. Note from Library and Archives Canada: “Crew are, left to right, Cecil Roberts, First Nations, of Prince Rupert, B.C., who works in radar; Fred Chan, from Truro, Nova Scotia, who is the steward's branch in the ship; and Larry Proctor, from Edmonton, who specialises in electrical work in the ship.” Photo taken on January 10, 1959, Source: Library and Archives Canada, https://recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/home/record?app=FonAndCol&IdNumber=5395360

11/04/2022

10/28/2022

In case anyone was wondering, this is your PSA that Indigenous regalia and traditional clothing are not Halloween costumes. Do not participate in cultural appropriation this Halloween. It's 2022; time for an original costume idea that doesn't involve stereotyping or mocking another culture.

Circle Teachings wishes everyone an evening of fun, frights, and candy!

10/21/2022

✨ Reconciliation has to be more than lip service, or a performative action or word, nor should it be mandatory, or based on mere due diligence.

We have to work at how we think, talk, act, and behave. And we have to move forward with unfettered freedom in our teachings and learning with the goal and purpose to have a mutual understanding in all sectors and on all levels, with all people.

We have to listen to listen, not to react.

We have to love openly and unconditionally and see without judgement.

And we have to speak with truth and accountability, through kindness, acceptance and empathy.

Safety in numbers.
Truth heals ❤️‍🩹

10/14/2022

An excellent series from the IAAW, hosted by Erica Gladue.

Tansi, everyone! We are excited to announce that we are starting another Building our Bundle program on Thursday, October 20th, 2022.

This program is a 6-week online program that is aimed at Indigenous female youth (ages 12-25 years old) and is hosted by our Esquao Youth program coordinator, Erica, and Kokum Elsie Paul. The program is meant to build an online community for Indigenous female youth to explore cultural teachings, and to participate in self-reflection activities. The program is going to be hosted online on Microsoft Teams every THURSDAY, 5:00-7:00 PM (Mountain Time) beginning on October 20th to November 24th, 2022 (6 classes in total).

If you are an Indigenous female youth that is feeling isolated during this time and want to explore your culture and build an online community or know of a youth that does, please follow the registration link!

Please use this link to register for the Building our Bundle program: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/buildingourbundle

If the link no longer works, the program is at full capacity.

Any questions or inquiries, please email Erica at [email protected]
Hiy hiy!

10/07/2022

Thanksgiving holds trauma for some Indigenous people, who see it as a racist holiday based on celebrating the myth that Indigenous Peoples freely gave up their land and their culture for settlers.

A movement has risen to reclaim Thanksgiving as a holiday of Indigenous Peoples, which could be a day to show thanks to Creator and each other for their territories, their food, the resurgence of their culture, and their resilience. Indigenous Peoples are still here.

To learn more about Indigenous perspectives on Thanksgiving, check out these articles:

-https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/indigenous-people-in-ottawa-want-to-reclaim-thanksgiving-day-columbus-day-1.3264648
-https://www.macleans.ca/opinion/the-odd-complicated-history-of-canadian-thanksgiving/
-http://muskratmagazine.com/a-first-nations-take-on-thanksgiving-youre-welcome-weekend/
-https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/indigenous-gratitude-thanksgiving-1.6207443

It’s been a movement in many American jurisdictions, and now people in Ottawa’s indigenous community want to reclaim Thanksgiving Day, also known as the American holiday Columbus Day.

09/30/2022

On the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, we honour, remember, and mourn all those children who did not return from residential schools. To the Survivors who returned with trauma, who are trying to heal and get justice for what they went through, we support you and want to help you. You matter. Every Indigenous child matters. 🧡🧡🧡

Phyllis Webstad made history at age 6. All she wanted to do was wear an orange shirt to school.

In her words...

"I went to the Mission for one school year in 1973/1974. I had just turned 6 years old. I lived with my grandmother on the Dog Creek reserve. We never had very much money, but somehow my granny managed to buy me a new outfit to go to the Mission school. I remember going to Robinson’s store and picking out a shiny orange shirt. It had string laced up in front, and was so bright and exciting – just like I felt to be going to school!

When I got to the Mission, they stripped me, and took away my clothes, including the orange shirt! I never wore it again. I didn’t understand why they wouldn’t give it back to me, it was mine! The color orange has always reminded me of that and how my feelings didn’t matter, how no one cared and how I felt like I was worth nothing. All of us little children were crying and no one cared.

I was 13 years old and in grade 8 when my son Jeremy was born. Because my grandmother and mother both attended residential school for 10 years each, I never knew what a parent was supposed to be like. With the help of my aunt, Agness Jack, I was able to raise my son and have him know me as his mother.

I went to a treatment centre for healing when I was 27 and have been on this healing journey since then. I finally get it, that the feeling of worthlessness and insignificance, ingrained in me from my first day at the mission, affected the way I lived my life for many years. Even now, when I know nothing could be further than the truth, I still sometimes feel that I don’t matter. Even with all the work I’ve done!

I am honored to be able to tell my story so that others may benefit and understand, and maybe other survivors will feel comfortable enough to share their stories."

🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡

Copied from:
https://www.orangeshirtday.org/

Orange Shirt Society

09/23/2022

Wondering where you can buy our calendars for 2023? Here is our current list of vendors:

- Audreys Books Ltd.
- Art Gallery of Alberta
- Samson Native Gallery
- Western Varieties Wholesale
- from September 25 to 28, you can also purchase calendars from our booth at the Transformative Reconciliation Gathering at River Cree Resort and Casino
- If you're not in Edmonton, you can shop online at circleteachings.ca

Thank you to all of our current and future customers for supporting our work! We would not be here without you!