On July 9th, 2021, JCAM President (Kelly Kaita), Past President (Ken Teramura), Secretary (Yuhito Adachi), and missing (Lisa Kaita), had the honour of meeting with and participating in a traditional Pipe Ceremony at the Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre. During this ceremony we presented to them a Senbazuru (1000 paper cranes) as a symbol of our memberships support of the “Every Child Matters” movement and the Truth and Reconciliations efforts. In the tradition of gift giving JCAM received three books representing the 94 Calls to action (residential schools) and Reclaiming Power and Place. A beautiful gift that is available for anyone to read as they will be put into our JCAM library.
Established in 1984, Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata is a Grandmother in the Winnipeg family of community service-providers with more than 30 years of experience working with Indigenous families. We are community people helping other community people reclaim our inherent roles and responsibilities as Indigenous caregivers and the most important teachers of our children.
The name Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata translates from Ojibway into the phrase, “we all work together to help one another.”
Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre is a strength and value-based family resource organization delivering community-based programs and services within the philosophy embodied in our name. Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre believes in accountability, transparency and effective use of resources. For us, this means working together with our families, our partners, funders and governments to create community based solutions that build local capacity for self-care.
Left to Right
Sandra DeLaronde (Pipe Ceremony Lead), Corrine Chief (Wellness Helper), Diane Redsky (Executive Director), Yuhito Adachi, Ken Teramura, Kelly Kaita, Sarah Delaronde (Pipe Ceremony)
Kelly Kaita and Diane Redsky
Japanese to English translation – roughly “Praying for consoling of the souls.”