GreenerSprings

I am so happy that my dear aunt is healing from open heart surgery she had the day before I left NL, always a sweety, the essence of light & love like my mother who is also doing well :) in her home town in NL :) 's always to you mom! Both women are walking angels caring for others with no expectations but the hope that those they care for do well! So Blessed & Honored to have thier influence & sincere love influencing my development towards higher self, caring & nuturing of others in my life.

Wed. Sept. 28, 7 PM: Panel on “Dissent in Democracy in Canada: Should dissent be confined to peace activists?”, 233 Gilmour St.,
Confirmed panelists:
Steven Staples - Rideau Institute, long-time political activist and campaigner
Jay Heisler - Veteran G8 Summit Protester and Researcher, St. Paul University
Derek James - Aboriginal Activist, Trade Unionist, Political and Civil Disobedience Dissent Expert
Yavar Hammed - Human Rights Lawyer and Advocate
Moderator: Larry Rousseau, Trade Unionist & No War- Paix member, 613-565-1915,
http://www.no-warpaix.ca/

If in ottawa you are invited to this first public Panel I am to be on related to effective dissidence. Looking forward to it :) 's to all. We shape our future with every action & thought for we have free will. Anger often begets anger, our choice & change starts within. Harmony & caring for others well being is our choice in every step along our way to a safer harmonious future. :)
Derek James

http://www.departmentofpeace.ca/2011/08/fifth-ottawa-peace-festival-sept-21-oct-2/

Prepared pit for Sacred Fire on Victoria Island this evening & overnight. Sacred Scrolls will be Blessed & displayed on Island tomorrow a.m. till Dusk I expect. Very Blessed myself to share these manny messages of hope & display more that write tomorrow. At National Archives, Headed to Market to get fresh food :), see old friends as they are everywhere here..., get some tape to display scrolls & looking for volunteers to help set up in a.m. a display of prayer , light & hope as the changes move forward in Honorining my good friend Grandfather William Commanda. Note if any Brothers in Spirit & Sisters in Spirit in Ottawa it is a good time to move forward on scroll's of awareness for action on these. Blesseings all :)

200 lb's of scrolls arriving for public display at various locations in Ottawa area till mid Oct.. Book a presentation for group etc. if you like. Very Very excited! Wow! & welcome all to Paddle for Peace honouring Grandfather William Commanda Victoria Island (between Ottawa & Gatineau Wend. 21st Sept. . 10 a.m. Canoes arrive at this opening event by Circle of all Nations & The Wolf Project for the Ottawa Peace Festival :) to all.

Hi All!

New to my blog, thanks Judie for an amazing magical page! WOWZIE to you :) 's forever :), some learning & editing to do. Just learning new ways here and how to capture this journey. Today Halifax hosted by a great nephew - friend & partner-friend both great! It was an amazing day with 2 great dogs, a Love Bird- ( actually that is its species ) that just didn't want to leave me, a pigeon on the shoulder, reminding me every moment & thing, species is sacred.

Journeyed with a Grandmother to Pavia Gallery Expresso Bar & Cafe, an amazingly clear space & art (opened 10 days ago) www.paviagallery.com then to coastal waters had Huckle berries for first time WOW! they're good :) & ripe. Spread out 3 Scrolls on rocks eons old, honored the messages with a short ceremony while Whales sang throughout our visit and sea ducks swam in.

Sign saying free Steak & Salmon dinner at St. Andrews Catholic Church on way in, served at 6:30 -WOW :) perfect timing for our return. Some good it was :). Great people and a beautiful couple, Mom almost due with a sweet girl of less than 2, very petite & I had to make a little balloon animal for her as there is nothing nicer than giving with such a warm smile. Discussed Solar & how too much red tape & need for low interest loans for lower income especially Elderly, families, isolated communities.

Hope to return & repay with some color & fun for kids as such a great meal & folk. Funny one person mentioned to someone they thought I was electioneering he he! just taking the time to meet people & see what in common such as Primary retired teacher & I was recommended in NL to do Art Smarts program last week. :) . So many guards up, fear, judgement of others we can carry. I myself admit I still do that but have to risk & look beyond judging others from previous cultural programming that instills fear and "Me" versus "Them" or what do they want to sell or get from me he he (maybe .42 cents) attitude versus the gifts we receive when open to others light :) - community well being requires conversation :) 's & fun.

Down to .42 cents & that should get me to Moncton by 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. with 80 lb. backpack. A good work out :).

P.S. keep thinking of the Hitch hikers guide to the Galaxy: Don't panic! (for all is provided)

Such a beautiful day . Wish you all well!

off to Sierra Atlantic AGM Friday after Moncton
http://atlantic.sierraclub.ca/en/http%3A/%252Fatlantic.sierraclub.ca/en/AGM_2011

Taking a good look at how ecologically sustainable Micro energy, heat systems can be supported by Governments versus destructive mega projects.

Paddle for Peace Equinox Celebration at Victoria Island

Join us on the United Nations International Day of Peace September 21, 2011 for

Grandfather William Commanda’s Twelfth Annual Peace Event in Ottawa

Animate the quintessential Canadian Spirit of Canoe and build bridges, promote peace and partnerships, and celebrate Sustainable Relationships!

Supporters of Elder Commanda, under the auspices of The Circle of All Nations and The Wolf Project, are organizing a special Paddle for Peace event to ignite a flame for the Canoe as the synergetic symbol for Peace

Join Grandfather William Commanda’s friends and celebrate his legacy, and the spirit of Canoe, with notable canoeists, peace and environmental activists who will share their perspectives on how canoes, water and nature combine to animate deep peace.

Then participate in a Grandfather Commanda Memorial Sharing Circle, a community picnic, art and birch bark canoe demonstrations, a concert and information sharing!



AGENDA

10.00 Elder Peter Decontie Lights Sacred Fire; Ceremony

11.00 Canoes arrive at Victoria Island

Opening Prayer, Welcoming Remarks and Greetings from Officials

A Prayer for Grandfather William Commanda

11.30 Remarks from Special Guests

Heather Sole, Monique Renaud, Francine Payer: Prayer for Water and Drum Song

Ann Wipper/Michael Greco: A Passion for Canoes – Honouring Kirk Wipper

Jay Morrison, Max Finkelstein, and Daniel Beauchamp: Canoe Journeys

Chuck Commanda, Marcel LaBelle: Canoe Making with GWC BE Good Enough for Two

Rebecca Mason and Reid McLachlan: Canoes, Water and Art

Meredith Brown: The Great River Project

Larry McDermott: Rivers, Canoes, Eels, Donald Marshall Jr. – ME Stewardship

Minnie Matoush: The Wolf Project and Racial Harmony

Bryan Bowers: Canoes, Rivers and Healing

Derek James: People of the Americas Forest Scroll

Daniel Bernard: Learning to Embrace Peace through Nature

Douglas Cardinal: Embracing Differing World Views

Patrick Gravel: The Portage of Wisdom

Phil Weir: Place for Peace and Healing

Bill Bhaneja/Peter Stockdale: Overview of City of Ottawa Peace Activities

12.30 Pot Luck Lunch!

Memorial Sharing Circle for Grandfather William Commanda

1.30 Concert with Tito Medina and friends

Information sharing tables : Themes: birch bark canoe making demonstrations and discussions, forest scroll ,

water, creativity, river art, peace and nature and Grandfather’s

Circle of All Nations books and dvds – including the latest

The Portage of Wisdom!

3.00 Closing Prayer

PADDLE FOR PEACE CELEBRATION AT VICTORIA ISLAND

Background

This project has been inspired by the work of William Commanda, the ninety seven year old Algonquin Elder of the Ottawa River Watershed, who left us all to continue his work.

His passions included birch bark canoe-building, peace-building and environmental stewardship. He dedicated over forty years of his life to creating a Circle of All Nations, Culture of Peace. A canoe builder of international renown, over seventy-five of his canoes have taken his energy around the world, including to Queen Margrethe of Denmark. Entirely unsupported by any organization, he has reached the hearts of diverse communities, nationally and internationally, with his love, wisdom and prayer for peace, and recently, his lifetime of efforts has been acknowledged by his Master Canoe Builder and River Conservation recognition, receipt of the Key to the City of Ottawa, appointment as Officer of the Order of Canada, Lifetime Achiever of the 2010 National Aboriginal Achievement Awards, and receipt of the Wolf, Harmony and Martin Luther King Dreamkeeper Awards. Already holder of an Honorary Doctorate Degree from the University of Ottawa, he is now being honoured by University Quebec, drawing the English and French energies together in a common recognition of deep unifying wisdom.

In 2000, Grandfather Commanda organized the Millennium Circle of All Nations Peace Gathering at Nepean Point, and later that year participated in the United Nations Peace Conference in New York; in 2005, Cercle d’Paix and the Mayor of Montreal presented him with the pacifist of the year award in celebration of the September 21 United Nations International Day of Peace, and over the recent years, he supported the City of Ottawa in its peace day celebrations.

In May 2000, the former Governor General, The Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson, participated in a special circle discussion on peace-building and Grandfather’s vision for a center for healing and reconciliation at the Millennium Circle of All Nations Peace Gathering, (commemorative of the UN Decade for a Culture of Peace); in 2004, Elder Commanda and then Excellency, John Ralston Saul participated in the Boreal Rendezvous canoe launch from Victoria Island. Friends of Grandfather see the proposed Paddle for Peace event as a further step towards the reconciliation of Aboriginal Peoples and Canadians, the celebration of A Circle of All Nation, A Culture of Peace, the advancement of the vision for Indigenous peace-building at Asinabka, on Victoria Island at the Sacred Chaudière Site, and the promotion of Sustainable Relationships. Grandfather has left the work for the Indigenous Centre to us – may this peace event animate the desire for its manifestation in all our hearts.

For countless years, the canoe has been the central symbol to express the magic of the journey of life and discovery across the vast continent of North America. It is the zone where diverse cultures and peoples met and interconnected with the intimate face of Nature. It conveys thoughts about balance, cooperation, harmony and fun, consistent with the joy, flow and challenges of nature. The canoe has captured the imagination of the country so profoundly that it was selected as the winner in the CBC contest to uncover the Canadian Seven Wonders in 2008.

Over the past twenty years native communities and police have developed cross cultural trips to promote camaraderie, peace, racial harmony and relationship building, under such captivating titles as Fast Waters, Fast Friends, Flotilla for Friendship, and Pulling Together, linking Elders and youth, Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Peoples, professionals and community voices in the quest for justice. This ancient watercraft of the Indigenous Peoples continues to inspire modern sport enthusiasts, nature lovers and social activists to challenge themselves to build bridges and friendship with Mother Earth and each other.

Join us to celebrate the Spirit of the Canoe and Peace Building at the SOURCE!

GINAWAYDAGANUC: WE ARE ALL CONNECTED

With Nature and Each Other

OTTAWA PEACE FESTIVAL SEPT. 21-OCT.2 WITH 17 EVENTS

4th OTTAWA PEACE FESTIVAL PROMOTES PEACE, UNITY AND HARMONY

September 21 – October 02, 2010

Together with Ottawa peace and justice civil society groups, the Canadian Department of Peace Initiative (CDPI) and the United Nations Association of Canada – NCR Branch invite you to take part in a 12-day Festival of Peace. The 4TH Annual Peace Festival with the theme of Peace, Unity and Harmony will mark the two important UN International Days of Peace and Nonviolence, September 21 and October 02.