The annual Gathering of Elders, held in Kawawachikamach this year, honors the memory of Innu politician and pioneer Alexandre McKenzie, who passed away in May. For over 25 years, this event has brought together hundreds of Aboriginal people from Quebec and Labrador to celebrate seniors and the transmission of Aboriginal culture.
The Ka Mamunuiitananuch cultural site, situated between Schefferville and Kawawachikamach, was transformed for the occasion with the installation of over 150 tents and shaputuan to host the event’s activities, running from August 26 to September 4. The Gathering features songs, dances, craft workshops, and discussion circles focused on mental health, substance abuse, bereavement, traditional medicine, and caribou.
In addition to cultural celebrations, the Gathering serves as a platform for remembering Alexandre McKenzie’s legacy, especially his work in promoting Aboriginal traditions. The event features performances by Innu artists, with the group Maten from Mani-utenam closing the event. Nearly 350 participants arrived in Kawawachikamach via the Tshiuetin train, which connects Schefferville and Sept-Îles, with the Tshakapesh Institute—founded by McKenzie—helping fly in several elders to attend.
This year’s event welcomes delegations from the Cree and Atikamekw nations for the first time, along with dignitaries, families, and young people. Students from Jimmy Sandy Memorial Elementary School in Kawawachikamach also performed a traditional dance show. Next year, the Gathering will be hosted by Mashteuiatsh in Lac-Saint-Jean.
The Ka Mamunuiitananuch cultural site has been developed to accommodate more than 300 people. Photo by Benjamin Jancewicz
The annual gathering of the Innu Nation’s 2024 seniors is taking place for the first time in Naskapian land. The event opened this Tuesday morning with a tribute to the late Alexandre McKenzie, from Matimekush.
About 300 people from nine Innu communities in Quebec and two in Labrador landed yesterday by train and plane in the Schefferville area for this large gathering. It also hosts a delegation of the Atikamekw Nation. The chefs and several other leaders join the festivities.
Many conferences, training workshops, religious ceremonies, discussion tables and shows are on the program over 10 days. Each year, the gathering offers opportunities for reunion and to reconnect with certain traditions.
175 tents on an exceptional site
The organizers chose the cultural site of Ka Mamunuiitananuch, in the middle of nature. This burnt forest site is particularly special, with easy access to water and the forest that is starting to grow back. Bushes loaded with blueberries, tea and medicinal plants abound around the site.
The Elders gathering has been organized for a month. More than 175 tents have been set up, with several amenities for the comfort and safety of the Elders.
This is the 28th Gathering of Seniors, which will continue until September 4. The 2023 one took place at Unamen Shipu in Basse-Côte-Nord.
The past few days have been a whirlwind, and because of a rockslide on the railway between Sept-Iles and Schefferville, the connection has been spotty.
So, let’s catch up!
Thursday, August 22:
I stopped at my friend Jeff’s house in upstate New York. Jeff’s place is a gorgeous cabin-style home nestled on the side of a mountain, right next to a babbling stream. The inside of his home is just as beautiful, with deep, dark wood and stained glass everywhere. It’s always a treat to stay there, and it’s the perfect halfway point between Baltimore and Montreal.
My journey began with a smooth drive through the Adirondacks to Montreal. The weather was perfect—cool breezes and clear skies made the lush, green mountains more breathtaking. Every time I pass through the Adirondacks, I feel I could stay there forever.
As much as I enjoyed the scenic drive, it wasn’t without a bit of drama. While cruising through the Adirondacks, I noticed a state trooper ahead who had pulled someone over. I knew I had to move over to give him space, but a Jeep tailgating me in the left lane refused to let me over. I finally squeezed into the middle of the road to get around the trooper, but about a half mile later, I got pulled over myself. I tried to explain to the officer that I’d attempted to move over, and after reviewing my dashcam footage together, he let me go with a warning. I’m glad he let me go, but most especially since I’ve worked on public service announcements about the Move Over law for the Baltimore City Department of Transportation.
When I reached Montreal, it was around 5:30 PM, just in time to pick up Marilyne from work. Navigating Montreal’s rush hour traffic is never fun, but with Marilyne beside me, we managed.
We checked into our hotel near the airport, where I parked Pishu, and then we went down to the hotel restaurant for dinner. Unfortunately, the meal was a bit of a letdown. We waited over an hour for our plates, and when they finally arrived, the food was dry and overcooked. The staff wasn’t very attentive, even though the restaurant wasn’t busy.
Still, we made the best of it, playing games and enjoying each other’s company. Afterward, we headed back upstairs and watched a bit of the DNC and The 3 Body Problem before heading to sleep.
Friday, August 23:
This morning was a little hectic. Because I didn’t have my full-size suitcase, I had to get creative with my luggage. I was afraid of getting in trouble like I had last time because of all the batteries, drones, and cameras I traveled with. Marilyne reminded me to relax, we kissed goodbye, and I made it on my shuttle on time.
The airport was pretty empty. When checking my luggage, I told the handler that one of the bags was full of equipment. She was no problem and sent me to the oversized section. They scanned it, gave it a special tag, and sent me on my way—easier than I thought!
I wound through the airport and made it to the northern traveler wing. It always gives me a strange feeling. The wind is very out-of-the-way, poorly maintained and cleaned, and always gives me segregation vibes. The majority of passengers in this part of the airport are indigenous.
I stopped at La Brasseur for a quick breakfast. Adnan, the head of the Naskapi telecom company Sichuun, was at the gate, heading up to do some work. They have outfitted the entire Elder’s Gathering site with WiFi for all the visitors coming. This is great for me because I’m hoping to upload lots of photos and videos the entire time.
After many hours and ups and downs from Montreal to Quebec City to Sept-Iles, I finally landed in Schefferville.
As soon as I got my baggage, Stella and Naomi took me out to the Elder’s gathering site! I took lots of photos, make sure you follow the page to see them all.
When I arrived, the camp was already buzzing with activity. I spent the day capturing photos, including drone shots of the entire site, which I plan to use to create a map later. It’s incredible to see how much the camp has grown, with more tents popping up as people arrive.
As the day turned to night, a stunning blood-red moon rose above the camp. It was a beautiful and surreal way to end the day.
I’m spent the night in a cozy little tent that the organizers let me use, bundled up under two blankets. The night air is brisk, but the blankets are warm, and I’m looking forward to tomorrow.
Saturday, August 24:
I woke up this morning after a solid night’s sleep, feeling refreshed and ready for the day. The cool night air helped me sleep well, and despite my tent lacking a stove, I stayed warm under the blankets.
The camp was already alive with activity when I woke up, but I took a moment to walk down to the lake to pray, meditate, and prepare mentally for the day.
Breakfast was simple but perfect—fresh blueberries from the bushes around the campsite. There’s nothing quite like the taste of wild blueberries in the morning.
Throughout the day, I followed the workers around the site, documenting their progress with my camera so that we could share updates on the Elders Gathering Facebook page.
As I walked, I was accompanied by a sweet Rez dog named Myles, who decided to stick by my side. It was comforting to have him with me.
My parents also visited the site today to manage a donation booth for the many tribes gathering here. The sense of community and generosity is wonderful, and it’s heartwarming to see everyone coming together.
The camp continues to grow as more people arrive. I flew my drone again this morning to update the map I’m creating in Illustrator, but by evening, there were already at least 20 more tents set up. And with three charter planes arriving tomorrow, the camp is set to grow even more.
Today’s drive was absolutely gorgeous. The weather was perfect—cool, breezy, and sunny at around 22°C. It’s interesting; I learned that this temperature is what it’s like year-round in the Canary Islands. Now I’m thinking I might like to visit there someday.
I woke up naturally this morning, feeling refreshed after a good night’s sleep. It was a much-needed rest, especially after staying up late packing. Packing has always been a task that seems simple until you’re in the middle of it, distracted by a million other things. Marilyne was on the phone with me, helping me stay on track and reminding me of the little things I might forget. Given how often I travel, I’m seriously considering just keeping certain luggage packed—it might save me some of the hassle next time.
Last night, as the packing wore on, I decided to take a break from packing and stepped outside to capture the supermoon. Lunar photography hasn’t always been my strong suit—my shots tend to come out blurry or overexposed. But last night, I spent some time under the moonlight, reading up on techniques, and finally managed to get a shot I’m proud of. It felt good to take the time, focus, and see it pay off.
After finishing my packing this morning, I managed to get on the road before noon. I had hoped to pick up my suitcase and a pair of rubber boots from the dry cleaners—items I dropped off over a month ago after Auta had an accident on them. After weeks of not hearing back from them despite my calls, they finally called three hours into my drive to say my things were ready. A little too late. I told them I’d pick everything up after my trip, but it was frustrating considering how long I had waited.
The drive itself was smooth for the most part. Traffic was light, and I had plenty of time to enjoy the scenery. I did see a pretty rough motorcycle accident on the opposite side of the road, which gave me pause. I’ve thought about getting a new motorcycle now and then, but I’m not so sure after my last crash in 2019. It brought back memories of another accident I had years ago when I was still in college. That one was serious, too—my bike hit a concrete guardrail, and I ended up in the emergency room. Thankfully, I made a full recovery both times, but seeing that accident today made me rethink the idea of getting back on a bike. I wrote about the first accident in a blog post and shared my experience with the more recent one in a Twitter thread.
The best part of the day was reaching Jeff’s house in upstate New York. Jeff’s a good friend I met on Twitter years ago, and he’s been kind enough to offer me a place to stay halfway between Baltimore and Montreal. Breaking up the trip like this makes it so much more manageable. He made an incredible dinner—chicken, rice, and Brussels sprouts—and we spent the evening laughing and watching TV shows and movies. Moments like these make me grateful for the friends I have in my life.
Today was one of those days where everything seemed to pile up at once. I started the day catching up on a ton of work at the Department of Transportation, especially tasks related to our social media presence. The highlight was finishing Frank’s retirement video—a project that took longer than expected but came together beautifully.
I was struck by the variety of people who sent in videos wishing Frank well. Colleagues, coworkers, people who have moved on to other jobs and agencies—even several mayors left video messages for him. It was a touching reminder of his impact on so many people, and I’m glad I could pull it all together before heading out on my trip.
Yesterday, I received three new patrons on my Patreon account—two paid and one free. Seeing people appreciate the work I put out there is always encouraging. My long-term goal with Patreon is to have it become my primary source of income. Honestly, I wish to do design work for free and give it away. My design agency charges for projects because I have to pay my bills, but Patreon brings me closer to my goal of working on art and design projects that I can give away.
Even though my Patreon is small, it has a group of dedicated and loving supporters who make it possible for me to keep creating. You can sign up here if you’d like to support my work and get some cool perks.
The rest of the day involved tying up many loose ends, including graphics for new speed cameras around Baltimore and an extensive ad campaign for an upcoming job fair that will be featured on billboards across the city. I’m proud of the designs, but the workload was intense, especially with the pressure of preparing for my time off.
I didn’t sleep well last night—too much on my mind. It was a restless night between staying up late to work and then lying awake thinking about everything I still needed to do. To top it off, traffic on the way to work was a nightmare, with several accidents slowing me down. I was already running behind, and that didn’t help. Thankfully, my boss was understanding, and we managed to have a productive day, even squeezing in a lunch meeting at Rosina Gourmet.
My boss has been pretty stressed out lately, but she’s started taking a step back, making the work environment a lot nicer. Over lunch, we chatted about my trip, seeing Marilyne, and shared stories about her mom and my grandmother.
One thing that’s been frustrating me lately is how taking a vacation feels like a punishment. In the U.S., it seems like the expectation is to finish all your work before you leave, making it nearly impossible to truly relax and recharge. My job is unique, and because of that, there aren’t many people who can step in and cover for me when I’m away. While that provides some job security, taking time off is also incredibly difficult.
I love what I do, but it’s wearing me out. It’s a constant balancing act, and today was just another reminder of how much I need this upcoming break.
Now that the workday is over, I’m spending the rest of the evening packing for my trip. I’m feeling really good about it—I’ve made an exhaustive packing list, including clothing for all kinds of weather and all the tech gear I’ll need to take lots of pictures and do plenty of recordings. I’m bringing several extra hard drives to ensure enough room for all the files. It’s a lot to think about, but I’m looking forward to finally getting on the road.
Today was a mix of familiar routines and new beginnings. It started with the annual Crossing Guards Symposium—my second year covering the event. Alan Robinson, as always, set the tone with his energy, preparing the crowd for the day.
The room was bigger this time, letting me play around with some wide-angle shots I didn’t capture last year.
After the symposium, it was back to the office. I don’t love spending long hours there, but the view from my window has its perks. Watching storm clouds roll over Baltimore provided a moment of peace, a reminder that there’s beauty to be found, even on the busiest days.
One of the day’s highlights was when Frank Murphy, who recently retired after 50 years of service, stopped by the office. We spent a long time talking about visiting national parks and cool places—he’s a walking encyclopedia for the Department of Transportation. It was a meaningful conversation, especially since I won’t be able to attend his send-off party later this week.
We exchanged numbers to stay in touch. I was grateful to have had that time with him today.
By the time I wrapped up, I was exhausted. Knowing I wouldn’t have the energy to cook, I stopped by the Full Moon Pub & Grill for some fish and chips. It wasn’t just about the food—it was a chance to unwind and let the day settle.
But today isn’t just about work. I’m gearing up for a trip north, with a stop in Montreal to see Marilyne. I love spending time with her.
After Montreal, I’ll head to Kawawachikamach for the Elders’ Gathering. It’s the first time in 20 years that my hometown is hosting this event, and I’m honored to be documenting it. Capturing candid moments between the elders—many of whom I see as grandparents—is something I’m particularly looking forward to. These are stories that need to be preserved.
I’m thrilled to share that the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security recently featured me in a video interview as part of their article “Checklist to Build Trust, Improve Public Health Communication, and Anticipate Misinformation During Public Health Emergencies.”
We developed a unique, viral approach to public health communications. Our strategies aimed to rebuild trust within our community and enhance resilience against misinformation, which had a significant impact during these challenging times.
Building trust in public health is crucial, especially during emergencies, and it’s an honor to have our efforts recognized. Check out the video and learn more about the checklist developed to help public health departments improve their communication strategies:
BALTIMORE (WBFF) — Baltimore City Firefighters saved a victim from a residential fire in Southwest Baltimore on Monday, according to the department.
The department says at approximately 3:30 p.m., Baltimore City Firefighters battled a working dwelling fire in the 4200 block of Potter Street in Southwest Baltimore. Units arrived on the scene to find fire and smoke conditions coming from the first floor of this location. Firefighters performed a scene assessment and 360-degree observation and performed an interior attack on the fire. While performing search and rescue operations firefighters located a victim inside the dwelling. The victim was secured by firefighters and removed to the exterior where they are being cared by paramedics at the scene.
Fire officials say while battling the fire, firefighters identified holes in the floors of the structure that could create unsafe conditions. The incident commander ordered an evacuation of the structure to assure the safety of firefighters. At this time there have been no reports of injuries to any firefighters.
The Simcoe Gentlemen of Harmony returned victorious from the Ontario District Barbershop Competition in Belleville earlier this month.
The 34-member chorus won the provincial title, and one of four quartets they entered won in the novice division.
“The quartet of ours that won are called What Song Are We Singing,” said chorus member George Anger. “They were nervous but didn’t show it much on stage. They sang two pole cat songs – songs known by all barbershop choruses throughout the world – My Wild Irish Rose, and Sweet and Lovely.
Members of the winning novice quartet are Benjamin Jancewicz, Alan Daly, Les Komaromy, and Terry Pond.
The Simcoe Gentlemen of Harmony also were presented the trophy as the top performer in Plateau 3, while member John Deacon received the Sandy Bell Chapter Leader of the Year Award for his work at both the Simcoe Chapter and Ontario District level.
The Simcoe Gentlemen of Harmony has existed for over 50 years, and currently are directed by Derek Stevens, along with Robert Ross as assistant director.
“Our director has only been with us for a few years, and he decided that we were doing really well with these two songs,” Anger said. “’Let’s take them to provincial and see what we can do’, he said.
“It’s a lot of work to put in for six minutes on stage,” he noted. “But it’s worth it in the end.”
The men-only group sings every Tuesday evening at Old Windham Church in Simcoe.
“We would love for more guys to come out and join us,” said Anger. “We’d love to make it 50 (voices) again.”
The Simcoe Chapter draws members from London, Brantford and Niagara and performs at community fundraising events and special church services.
A pickup truck was coming in the other direction. As soon as it passed me, the cat darted across the road. I was going slow already. I hit the brakes. It didn’t matter.
He was a big guy, all black, and very fluffy. Looked like a shadow with eyes.
I did a quick u-turn on the empty street, hit my flashers, and ran over to him.
He was still breathing as put my hand out to comfort him, but didn’t last long. He didn’t cry.
I looked up in the direction he had been running; a house that resembled a well-worn and threadbare slipper. There was a light on inside. The porch didn’t seem like it would hold me.
Through the front door, I could see an older man in a bathrobe watching TV. I knocked.
A silver-haired woman with bright eyes and glasses came to the door.
I asked her if she owned a black cat. “A few!” She laughed, but then looked past me. “Oh no.” She said.
“Yeah.” was all I could say.
She came out in her socks, and gently lifted the cat up from the stain on the pavement.
“I’m so sorry…” I said, I began to tear up.
“I told you, Spooky,” she admonished the cat, still warm in her arms. “I told you so many times…”
“I’m so so sorry.” I repeated.
The man called from the porch. “Spooky?”
“Yeap.” Replied the woman. “It’s too bad.” She turned to me. “It’s not your fault. I just couldn’t keep him in, you know? Some cats just don’t take to bein’ indoors.”
The man, apparently ever practical, reappeared on the porch holding a garbage bag.
Their daughter came out, and took the bag from him.
She came out to us, smoothing Spooky’s fur down.
“I’m really glad you stopped and told us.” The elderly woman said.
“At least it was quick…” the daughter searched my eyes, it was a half question.
“Yes; very.” I reassured her. “I stayed with him until…” She visibly relaxed. “Thank you for doing that.” She lifted him gently, closing his eyes. “A lot of people wouldn’a even stopped.”
They thanked me again, I apologized again, and they went back into the house, carefully cradling Spooky.
