Latest news with #Midwinter
BBC News
28-03-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Swindon and Wiltshire Pride: Volunteers and stall-holders needed
Volunteers and stall-holders are needed for this year's Swindon and Wiltshire event for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and asexual (LGBTQIA+) community will return to GWR Park in Swindon on 9 say they need volunteers to help run the event, with applications for stall-holders now open.A "wide-ranging" line-up has been teased for the event, which is in its 17th year. One of the event's organisers, Andy Midwinter, said more people have been attending each year, with 10,000 people going in 2024."Pride has become more important," Mr Midwinter said. "We're always looking for a safe space for people to be themselves among like-minded friends." Mr Midwinter said organisers are not yet at the stage where they can announce the line-up, but said it will be "very wide-ranging".Last year's event saw performances from Sonia, The Cheeky Girls and The Royal Serenity among others. 'Busy and vibrant' Volunteers are needed to join the event's committee, helping with event coordination, communications, social media and community are also open for cold food and snack vendors, retail, crafts and activities, as well as stalls for business, public services, charities and other Midwinter said: "Last year our marketplace area was such a busy and vibrant area, this year we're looking for any local charities or businesses to get involved again."Charities and businesses have until 28 April to apply for a stall.
CBC
22-02-2025
- General
- CBC
Midwinter gathering highlights authentic Mi'kmaw songs and dance
During the coldest month of winter, the Mi'kmaq honour Apuknajit, the February full moon, with a Midwinter feast and ceremony. At a recent Midwinter ceremony in Millbrook First Nation, about 80 kilometres north of Halifax, Michael R Denny debuted three new ko'jua songs to add to his personal repertoire of the traditional Mi'kmaw song genre. "I want to make sure that those songs are handed down in my family just the way it was done before," said Denny, who is from Eskasoni First Nation on Cape Breton Island. Midwinter ceremony and celebrations are something that Denny, who helped to organize the event, holds near to his heart. "It has always been an important gathering for my people to celebrate that winter spirit Apuknajit," he said. Historically the harshest month for hunting and survival, it was a time when Mi'kmaq left food offerings for the spirit of Apuknajit, to appease him in order to make it through the remainder of winter with plentiful food and favourable weather. The Midwinter celebration is built around this offering by involving community with time to gather, share a feast, reflect on the challenges of winter and celebrate their continued tenacity. Denny organized the event through his work with Mi'kmaw Kina'matnewey, a Mi'kmaw educational authority in Nova Scotia. This year's event reflected traditional midwinter activities, featuring dice games, wapnaqn and waltes, a pipe ceremony, community feast, and ending with a ko'jua tournament that went on till nearly 11 p.m. The emphasis on ko'jua, a traditional Mi'kmaw dance accompanied by songs played on a ji'kmaqn, or split ash instrument, is important for Denny, who feels a responsibility to maintain this practice at the gatherings he organizes. "Everybody practiced [ko'jua] from Gespe'gewa'gik (Quebec and northern New Brunswick) all the way to Unama'kik (Cape Breton), and everywhere in between," he said. Denny said an important part of keeping the ancient songs alive is recognizing their origins and remembering the people who carried them. "If you don't have the story that goes along with it, you're only singing half the story and you're only honouring half that story," he said. Evan Googoo, a ko'jua singer and dancer from Wagmatcook First Nation, both shared songs and won the adult men's ko'jua dance competition. "Ko'jua, for me, it's just a way of connecting to our people, our ancestors. When I dance, I picture my grandfather there dancing with me," said Googoo. "It's not just a dance. It's a symbol of our resilience as Mi'kmaw people." He said it brings him pride to see his kids and family dancing. Googoo's daughter Karala Googoo, 15, said she looks forward to midwinter for the opportunity to dance. "I love to dance, it's one of my favorite things," she said. "I dance women's traditional also, but I most enjoy doing ko'jua." The family walked away with two victories, with Karala placing second in the women's ko'jua competition. She is passionate about sharing the dance and along with her father has begun teaching it through workshops and lessons across the country.
