Covenant of Nations

Traditional Peoples Gathering

Welcome to the Covenant of Nations: Sacred Wampum Renewal Gathering page.

Covenant of Nations: Birth and Evolution 2018-present

The mandate for reinvigorating pre-colonial diplomatic relations among Indigenous Nations to renew covenants of friendship, mutual aid, peacemaking and unity is not a dream, but a goal to be pursued across the generations.

Photo Legend: Lodge of Nations

The Birth: Parliament of the World’s Religions (PoWR), Nov. 1-7, 2018

In 2018, the Parliament of the World’s Religions was held in Toronto, Canada and brought 9,000 guests worldwide to the 7-day event. The host Nations, Six Nations of the Grand River and the Mississaugas of the Credit welcomed participants from 81 countries and 118 faith traditions. At the Parliament, the Indigenous Peoples Program co-ordinated the host First Nations and guest Indigenous Nations as they offered the opening ceremonies, over 100 workshops, and presented ceremonies and traditional Indigenous wisdom teachings for 12 hours each day in the Lodge of Nations and then, closed the international gathering with songs and prayer.

Photo Legend: Alan Corbiere, Historian

The Mandate: Convene a Gathering to Renew Wampum Covenants

While these events were in progress, spiritual leaders from the Haudenosaunee Confederacy and the Anishinaabek Nation gathered for visiting in the office of the Indigenous Peoples Program (IPP). During these conversations, the leaders congratulated the Co-Chairs of the IPP, Diane Longboat and Bob Goulais on the programming that they were seeing at the PoWR and tasked them with convening a spiritual gathering to renew pre-colonial relationships made in covenants in wampum belts.

Photo Legend: Rick Hill, Historian

Covenant of Nations, Sept. 14-16, 2023 Crawford Lake, Ontario

The work began to convene the spiritual leaders of these Nations to a safe and neutral place where they could talk, share, grieve, and remember to repair relationships damaged by war and to imagine a way forward. The full day of wampum teachings by trusted historians Rick Hill, Tuscarora, Alan Corbiere, Anishinaabe, Brian Charles, Anishinaabe, and Harry Wallace, Chief, Unkechaug Nation brought the Ancestors to the Sacred Fire and inside the Lodge of Nations to create momentum for the spiritual support needed for peace making, and unity.

Photo Legend: Left to Right, Bob Goulais, Fred Kelly, Oren Lyons

The Traditional Peoples Gathering was held September 14-16, 2023 at Crawford Lake Conservation Area, Milton, Ontario, Canada to revitalize the pre-colonial strong and respectful relationship between the Haudenosaunee Confederacy and the Anishinaabeg Nation.

Photo Legend: Left to Right, Rick Hill, Oren Lyons, Tom Porter, Frank Miller and Dan Longboat

In order to respond to challenges of self-determination, nationhood, the environment, and the future of both nations, this spiritual gathering had the following objectives:

• Invocation of the Spirit and Ancestors

  
  

• Sharing of Sacred Traditional Ceremonies

  
  

• Demonstrate and promote Indigenous values

  
  

• Contribute to the Healing of Mother Earth

  
  

• Transmission of historical, spiritual and cultural knowledge to youth

  
  

• Ceremonial Healing of Nations

  
  

• Promotion of Unity Among Nations

  
  

• Creating a movement on Turtle Island

  
  

• Inspiring the values and actions of Settler nations

  
  

• Addressing climate change

  
  

• Contributing to the Legacy of Peace

  
  

The Gathering brought together Elders and youth from the two Nations as well as honored guests such as Chief Arvol Lookinghorse (Lakota), Chief Justice Emeritus Robert Yazzie (Navajo), Cheryl Demmerts Fairbanks (Tlinglit), Gwaii Edenshaw (Haida Gwaii) Melissa Nelson (Anishinaabe/Metis/Norwegian) and Kaylena Bray (Seneca), among others. Wampum belts were shared with the participants and guests. Historians Rick Hill (Tuscarora), Brian Charles (Chippewas of Georgina Island) and Alan Corbiere (M’Chigeeng First Nation) shared the significance of the belts as living history, their diplomatic role of creating covenants of peace, trade, land use, and friendship among Nations.

Covenant of Nations, September 19, 20, 21, 2026 Chippewas of Rama First Nation, Orillia, Ontario

Our next gathering will be held on September 19, 20, 21, 2026 at the Chippewas of Rama First Nation. Stay tuned for more information!!

Photo Legend: Friendship belt

“We are honored to hold the Traditional Peoples Gathering. This is an evolution of the Covenant of Nations gathering held in September 2023. This gathering seeks to bring international Wisdom Keepers together with youth and families of Indigenous Nations to build the hearts and souls of the next generation of leaders, healers, teachers, prophets, and visionaries.”

Photo Legend: Bob Goulas and Creator’s Game Sticks

Photo Legend: Shelly Charles and Bob Goulas

Traditional Peoples Gathering

Wampum Renewal video

The Traditional Peoples Gathering Teaser

Crawford Lake Drone Show