Renewing Friendship: Zemlya/Nanaskomun

Give Thanks for the Land – Aboriginal/Ukrainian-Canadian ceremonial exchange of gifts in Edmonton

More than one hundred years ago, Ukrainian settlers began to build their farms and towns on land that had traditionally been the homeland of First Nations and Mtis peoples in Alberta. Now, the descendents of those Ukrainian settlers also call this land home.

For a long time, the Ukrainian settlers told the story of their first contact with the Aboriginal peoples, who were in fact their neighbours and helped them survive the first harsh years. But it has been a long time since any of us have heard these stories. To commemorate this relationship based on a shared bond with the land (zemlya in Ukrainian), never officially acknowledged by our respective communities, we invite the community to an Aboriginal/Ukrainian-Canadian ceremonial exchange of gifts to give thanks (Nanaskomun in Cree) and to renew an old friendship.

Event co-facilitators are Myrna Kostash, writer, and Sharon Anne Pasula, MA, Cultural and Spiritual Resource Person.

The event will be held on Sunday, September 23, 2012, 2-4:30 pm. at St. Faith’s & St. Stephen the Martyr Anglican Church, 11723 – 93 Street, Edmonton AB