The Four Directions
An ORIGIN Publication that features insights into Indigenous culture and traditions from Traditional Knowledge Keepers, community highlights, ORIGIN's engagement with communities, partners, and more!
East Direction, Issue 3
Waabanoong – the Eastern Doorway
Waaban represents the morning, where day breaks.
Our elders tell us that’s where the grandfather sun, Mishoomis Giizhigaa Biisim, comes up and that we have to greet him. As we get ready in our homes, and the sunshine pours through our windows, we put our hands up and say “Miigwech for coming to see us again” as the Grandfather brings us light and heat to help life grow once again. But the Eastern door in the ceremonies is also the time where we honour the women; our Mothers, Grandmothers, aunties, Sisters and Daughters. We also take this time, being the first direction of the Medicine Wheel, to honour the water. The water is where we begin our human journey as our mother carries us in her sacred water for 9 months.
Miigwech
Jordan Quequish and Reena Larabee
COMPANY NEWS
Indigenous Engagement and Training
Rainy River Sims & Fort William First Nation Simulator Stops
The simulator trailer was stationed at a few different stops this month! In Rainy River and Fort William, community members and interested job seekers could register for a Heavy Equipment Operator screening assessment. Individuals can complete the screening to test their aptitude for different heavy equipment machinery!
DFC Career Fair
ORIGIN was invited to attend the Career Fair for students at Dennis Franklin Cromarty High School. Students were able to drop by our booth and check out different careers experiences. We hope they left inspired to discover new careers options they can pursue after high school!
Women in Construction
In partnership with Mattawa Education, we held our Women in Trades event for International Women’s Day at the ORIGIN office. Our guest speakers shared stories of their successful careers in the trades and engineering. Attendees also had the opportunity to learn more about career opportunities in a variety of trades and supporting programs like OYEP. And of course, they had the chance to test out the Dozer Simulator and ImmersiveLink Careers!
Core Beliefs & 7 Grandfather Teachings in Fort William First Nation
The Core Beliefs workshop allows participants to learn more about their learned beliefs and reflect on their personal core beliefs. They will learn more about core beliefs and how they are connected to the four directions. The Grandfather Teachings workshops explores what the Grandfather Teachings teach us and how to use that knowledge to fuel our work and personal ethics.
Little NHL
The team travelled down to Mississauga for the Little NHL tournament! We had a booth for youth to come check out ImmersiveLink Cultural experiences created in partnership with Indigenous Tourism Ontario as well as the HEO simulators. Youth who stopped by were able to enter to win giveaways through ITO’s passport activity they were running throughout the tournament.
Workshop in Wikwemikong
In March, we travelled to Wikwemikong First Nation to deliver Personality Dimensions to staff. Personality Dimensions is an interactive workshop where individuals have the chance to learn more about their unique traits and abilities! Participants will also get to better understand their coworkers and develop more effective ways of communicating and collaborating.
Production Updates
Upcoming Productions
Kawawachikamach & CLSC Naskapi Tour
This interactive tour will showcase this community in Northern Quebec along with their healthcare facility and an overview of their services.
Community Tours in Webequie and Marten Falls First Nation
As part of the Northern Road Link project, we will be working with these communities to build community tours to support the proposed Ring of Fire mining development.
New ImmersiveLink Cultural Experience
In collaboration with members of Eabametoong First Nation, we have developed a new cultural experience for Ice Fishing! This experience takes the viewer on an ice fishing trip to learn more about preparation for these trips and what can happen while you’re there.
IL7 is moving into Beta Testing
The ImmersiveLink Sacred Seven experience is now moving into beta testing. We are excited to see this project come to life! IL7 allows viewers to learn the 7 Grandfather Teachings in an interactive format supported by reflection activities that allow the users to reflect on real life applications of these teachings.
The Sharing Circle with Melissa Hardy-Giles
NEW EDITION
Women in Skilled Trades: How to Connect, Inspire and Uplift
April 6,2023
In the skilled trades, opportunities to increase work readiness, community support and retention efforts are necessary for women to succeed.
Upcoming Events
Manito Ahbee
May 19th – 21st
We will be one of the outdoor vendors at this year’s Manito Ahbee Festival! Stop by our tent, try out ImmersiveLink and learn more about job opportunities and ways we can work with your community.
Community Spotlight
Our team has had the opportunity to work with Webequie and its members on an exciting community production! The Webequie Traditional Knowledge Tour will be used for Cultural Awareness programs to support the Northern Road Link project. We are looking forward to continuing our work with the community!
Upcoming events:
- Webequie Career Fair: Stop by and test out ImmersiveLink and learn more about upcoming career opportunities
Learn More
WebsiteService Highlight
In support of increasing gender diversity in the trades, we recognize the importance of creating safe spaces for women to receive training and explore this career path. This workshop creates an environment that is women-focused and allows for likeminded individuals to further explore their interest in careers related to construction.
Women Under Construction is a 4-day program that combines classroom learning with hands-on learning to introduce and prepare women for jobs in the resource/construction industry. During the program, topics covered will include industry expectations, VIP Employee content and hands on learning. The hands-on portion will be facilitated through CAT Heavy Equipment Simulators used to introduce the basic understanding and operation of heavy machines commonly used in the construction and resource development sectors.
Learn More
WebsiteCareer Opportunities
Looking for a new role working on exciting projects with a creative team? Check out our current openings:
Interested in learning more?
Contact us today!