Fort Albany prepares for Great Moon Gathering

This year’s annual Great Moon Gathering will take place in Fort Albany from Feb. 16-17.
The Great Moon Gathering is an annual conference that brings together educators from all of the eight Omushkego Education Authorities and surrounding communities to engage in professional development, share resources and ideas with one another.
Like most northern communities, the teachers who are contracted to teach in the Mushkegowuk communities are often non-Aboriginal, straight from university or college, and have little knowledge of the local traditions and culture. Organizers said the Great Moon Gathering is way for the community to shares its traditional knowledge and culture with the educators.
The annual conference is held every February in keeping with the Omushkego translation of the month, meaning the "Great Moon."
At least 300 people are expected to register for the conference. The organizers are still accepting registrations until Jan. 16.
To register or for more information, people can contact Edmund Metatawabin at edman.1010@hotmail.com or 705-278-1108 or 705-278-3390.