(MNFC Rest Bench Build 2/3)

Come burn your story with us! Learn a simple wood burning technique and help decorate a new bench for the Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre. Led by Indigenous artists, this creative session is about connection, storytelling, and leaving your mark behind. 

Join Charlene on a Mindful North End Walk among the trees and beautiful row houses—starting at the Every One Every Day Shop and slowing down at the Hydrostone Park for guided meditation, reflection, journaling and an opportunity to share. 

Join us at the Shop for a lively dance party with great music, fun vibes, and friendly faces. All ages, abilities and dance styles welcome—bring your energy and dancing shoes!

Join us for the MNFC Rest Bench Build; a hands-on project to create a welcoming bench at the MNFC. Help shape a space for rest, connection, and community. All welcome, come lend a hand and be part of building something meaningful together.

We will start or continue carving the blocks, discuss how to avoid & deal with slips and accidents, and how to create textures, patterns, as well as how to achieve tones and shading, volume, and perspective. 

Join Anishinaabe singer-songwriter Elsa Ruck in a songwriting workshop, where we will spend time crafting songs and reflecting on the importance of oral tradition. All levels and experience are welcome! Bring your creative spirit and stories!

Do you use pre-written land acknowledgments in your work? Have you been interested in writing your own land acknowledgement but weren’t sure where to start? Come learn about the importance of land acknowledgments. All are welcome to attend and reflect on their unique roles as treaty people living on treaty lands. Come learn the who, what, when, where, and why of land acknowledgments. Participants will have the chance to create their own land acknowledgments.   

Session host Tammy Mudge is from Glooscap First Nation and is Every One Every Day’s Co-Director of Strategy.

Join Savvy as she shares about a wonderful social dance called ko’jua (“go-jew-ah”)! It’s the traditional dance of the Mi'kmaq people and is most often seen at a celebration such as a powwow or mawio'mi. The dance is accompanied by an instrument called the ji’kmaqn (“jee-gah-mahin”) which is a percussive shaker traditionally made of ash wood. All are welcome to learn a little history about the dance and then try it themselves! 

Savvy is from Elsipogtog First Nation and lives in Kjipuktuk / Halifax. She is an entrepreneur, activist, and public speaker. As the founder of the #SpeakMikmaq campaign, she is a dedicated and uplifting teacher of the Mi’kmaq language and culture. 

Join Carole and Francine to explore the basics of finger weaving, and to learn a bit about Métis culture. Finger woven sashes are one of the Métis people’s most recognizable cultural symbols. In this session, participants will learn the necessary steps to weave their own small bracelet! Finger weaving itself is a very basic, loom-less method of weaving found all over the world. Come and explore the uniquely ‘Canadian’ version of this mesmerizing craft.  

Carole is a self-taught Métis finger weaver originally from Manitoba. She is a proud citizen of the Manitoba Métis Federation. Francine is a self-taught Métis finger weaver originally from Saskatchewan and Alberta. She is Métis-Cree. 

Join us at the Community Build Trailer for a hands-on birdhouse session! Learn basic woodworking skills and build cozy homes for local birds or bats. No experience needed, just bring your curiosity. All are welcome to create something special for our winged neighbours! 

Tatreez is a form of cross-stitching that includes Palestinian motifs. These motifs have been around for 3000 years and are region specific. Come learn how to do Tatreez and about its history!

Are you interested in learning the basics of changing a car tire? Join resident Tony in learning how to safely jack up your car, remove a flat, and replace it with a spare! Review some different types of equipment, including different jacks, and user manuals. Build the confidence to change your own car tire safely!

We’ll discuss block materials and pros and cons, the tools, safety, drawing (and positive and negative space), transferring images to the block, and different ways to remove material for different effects (cutting tools, abrasives, rotary tools)

Join resident Laura and explore the world of embroidery and weave your black and white photos to life with colour! 

Join Carole and Francine to explore the basics of finger weaving, and to learn a bit about Métis culture. Finger woven sashes are one of the Métis people’s most recognizable cultural symbols. In this session, participants will learn the necessary steps to weave their own small bracelet! Finger weaving itself is a very basic, loom-less method of weaving found all over the world. Come and explore the uniquely ‘Canadian’ version of this mesmerizing craft.  

Carole is a self-taught Métis finger weaver originally from Manitoba. She is a proud citizen of the Manitoba Métis Federation. Francine is a self-taught Métis finger weaver originally from Saskatchewan and Alberta. She is Métis-Cree. 

Hello, my name is Muin Paul! I’m from Cape Breton Eskasoni First Nation and a Cultural Facilitator at the Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre. Join me in this session to explore what to expect at a powwow and cover common powwow etiquette. Learn the dos and don’ts for powwow including respectful protocol for dancers, drums, traditional vs. competition powwows, audience participation, and more. We encourage you to come with questions about powwows and have an open mind to learning.

A powwow is a gathering and celebration of First Nation cultures through dance, singing, food, music, and crafts. In Mi’kmaq the word mawio’mi is used, which means ‘gathering’.

Calling all hosts! Join us for an evening of connection, creativity, and fun. Over a provided meal, we will expand on the Every One Every Day project, with a special Q&A session with our Indigenous Guide Group. So, whether you are a first time, returning, or prospective host; come share a meal and mingle with the community!

Join us for the official unveiling of the Powwow Dancer Murals! Come celebrate the hard work and dedication of the staff and community who contributed to the Shape This Space project, in partnership with MNFC staff, OSO Planning & Design and North End residents!

Want to create a structure that supports and displays climbing plants? Join us to build your skills with woodworking and power tools in this fun trellis building session.

Wampum belts have been used by Haudenosaunee peoples for centuries as physical reminders of relationships and commitments between communities. Belts are beaded on a loom using designs to tell a story of that relationship. Residents are invited to take part in beading a community belt that represents what the North End neighborhood means to us. 

Haudenosaunee artist Kris Reppas will guide residents through the process of creating the belt. We ask residents to share their ideas for the design! Everyone is welcome and no experience required! 

March session – design the belt as a community. April and May sessions – learn how to bead and bead the belt.

Masks required at all sessions! 

Want to create a structure that supports and displays climbing plants? Join us to build your skills with woodworking and power tools in this fun trellis building session.

Join Ronald and learn different scratch techniques to create your own scratchboard art piece! Scraperboard Art is a one-of-a-kind etching technique on a prepared black surface! Bring photos to recreate as scratchboard art or see where your imagination takes you!

Music influences movement. So do the elements of nature and our environment. Let’s dance together for an afternoon exploration of what it means to be a dancer in our community and at home. We’ll also explore how we can apply cultural considerations to our dances.

Curious about how to secure a raised garden bed in the ground? Learn how to and help to level the raised beds at the footings of the community garden arbour.

Discover Indigenous Art around North End Kjipuktuk with Jordan from MNFC! Walk with us to see significant sights across the North End, while moving your body and connecting with your neighbours - and debrief over coffee afterward. Dress for the weather - we'll walk rain or shine!

Hello, my name is Muin Paul! I’m from Cape Breton Eskasoni First Nation and a Cultural Facilitator at the Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre. Join me in this session to explore what to expect at a powwow and cover common powwow etiquette. Learn the dos and don’ts for powwow including respectful protocol for dancers, drums, traditional vs. competition powwows, audience participation, and more. We encourage you to come with questions about powwows and have an open mind to learning.

A powwow is a gathering and celebration of First Nation cultures through dance, singing, food, music, and crafts. In Mi’kmaq the word mawio’mi is used, which means ‘gathering’.

Is there something you need to fix or cut, but don’t have the tool for it? Do you want to try different hand and power tools? Whether you’re a beginner looking to learn, or a seasoned maker with skills to share, we welcome you to bring your projects and ideas to the Community Build Trailer to meet handy neighbours, have on-site access to tools, learn tool basics, and chat about project ideas.

Rescheduled from May 2: Help us put the finishing touches on the new information hub at the community garden, including installing a corkboard, painting a chalkboard, and building shelving.

Little Free Library is a book-exchange movement designed for books to be accessible to the community. Come learn the steps to installing one as we place the George Dixon Little Free Library, built with the George Dixon Youth Program, in the park where it will live.