Tag: Cahoots Fest

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Befriending your stressed out nervous system

(12+)

with Esther Townshend

Bring your stressed, anxious or burnt-out nervous system and practice listening to its messages about how to care for yourself. We will discuss the stress response and window of tolerance, and how these concepts can help us to understand our bodies’ signals. We will also explore some simple trauma-informed stress release practices involving breathing, humming and shaking.

about the facilitator

Esther is a writer, organizer, peacemaker, disturber of the peace, Gestalt psychotherapy student, and nature lover. Since a concussion in 2018, she has been learning to live well with a finicky nervous system, with considerable help from Dr. Shailla Vaidya’s Reconnect Concussion yoga program. Her favourite stress relief practices include yoga, singing, walks by the lake, tea and chocolate.

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What does it mean to be an ally to Indigenous peoples?

(12+)
with Clarence Cachagee + Scott Morton Ninomiya

Join us for a transformative circle conversation delving into opportunities to be an ally to Indigenous peoples. Along with Scott, Clarence will lead us through key steps towards building meaningful partnerships that undermine oppressive, colonial systems. If you are exploring ways to be a more effective ally, this workshop is the perfect opportunity to gain valuable insights and gain new perspectives. Please come prepared to listen, share, and experience wisdom together!

about the facilitators

Clarence, founder of Crow Shield Lodge, is a helper, visionary and author who is known for investing his whole self into his community. Clarence originates from Chapleau Cree First Nation and calls Cambridge his home. Scott is the Coordinator of Mennonite Central Committee Ontario’s Indigenous Neighbours program. He will share his perspective as a settler working to earn the title ‘ally’ in his home community on the Grand River Watershed and with partners across Ontario.

the title of the workshop - what does it mean to be an ally to indigenous peoples - in a rainbow design with a photo of one of the facilitators in the background
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Ultimate Frisbee

with Hugh Brewster + Jubilene Brewster-Wild

Back by popular demand! No experience necessary – you will learn how Ultimate works and together we will play this game where mutual respect is valued and demonstrated.

about the facilitators

Hugh chases flying plastic with his friends as often as he can. As a co-founder of the non-profit ReachUp (currently on hiatus) he has facilitated ultimate workshops in a variety of Indigenous communities across Ontario. Jubilene is a Grade 12 student at Rosedale School of the Arts in Toronto. Running down frisbee hucks gives her great joy.

the title of the activity/workshop - Ultimate Frisbee - in a rainbow design over top of images of the two facilitators
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Queering Spirituality

(12+)
with Mäki Ashe Van Steenwyk

Ashe will explore what it means to “queer” spirituality. To “queer” something is to re-examine, deconstruct, or subvert it though a queer lens. It means to pay attention to our deepest longings and listen to the wisdom of our bodies as we join the Spirit in the Great Work of Liberation. This work involves unearthing the toxic myths and ideas that weave through our own consciousness as well as challenging the way these myths and ideas take concrete expression in the world around us. This session, which will benefit cishet folks as well as queer folks, will include a presentation, as well as discussion and contemplative practice.

about the facilitator

Ashe (she/they) is the Director of the Center for Prophetic Imagination in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She is a spiritual director, activist, author, and teacher whose work focuses on the intersection of spirituality and radical action. Ashe is the author of A Wolf at the Gate, unKingdom, and That Holy Anarchist, as well as a contributor to a number of edited tomes and publications. Ashe earned an MDiv from Bethel Theological Seminary, studied Spiritual Direction at the University of St. Catherine’s graduate school, and is currently writing her doctoral dissertation at United Theological Seminary.

the title of the workshop - queering spirituality - in a rainbow design with the photograph of the facilitator in the background
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Migrant Workers Exploitation: Learn and Act

(12+)

with Varka Kalaydzhieva + Sabrina Chiefari + Leah Watkiss

For years, migrant workers coming to Canada have been subjected to exploitation by employers, landlords, supervisors. Many are underpaid, overworked, abused. This experiential exercise leads participants to experience the exploitation migrant workers face when they arrive in Canada. Through a role-play, participants are guided through some of the exploitation workers experience at various stages of their migration, such as recruitment debt, dangerous work conditions, unlawful pay deductions, and crowded and unsanitary living conditions. After a debrief, the participants are asked to engage in various forms of support, advocacy and reflection.

about the facilitators

Varka is Project Manager in the Ministry for Social Justice, Peace, and Creation Care with the Sisters of St. Joseph of Toronto (CSJ). She has in interest and experience in various social justice issues, including migrant justice and human trafficking. Leah is Ministry Director of the CSJ Ministry for Social Justice, Peace, and Creation Care. She holds an M.A. in Peace and Justice from the University of San Diego. Sabrina is a Catholic Environmental Educator from Tkaronto/Toronto. As Creation Care Animator for the CSJ, she’s a long time proponent of Deep Ecology and Integral Ecology. She holds a certificate in Community Arts Practice and an undergraduate degree in Environmental Studies from York University.

the title of the workshop - migrant workers exploitation learn and act - in a rainbow design with the photos of the facilitators (3 women) in the background
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Like a Tree Planted By Streams of Water: contemplative prayer in the forest

with Leanne Wild

This session will use the practice of silent attentiveness to/in the woods as well as practices and texts from various ancient forms of christian contemplative prayer to provide an opportunity for prayer (possibly unlike anything you’ve called prayer before!) in and among the community of the forest: our fellow created beings. It could be called ‘lectio natura’ (something like ‘lectio divina’, an ancient method of prayer through silent attentiveness to specific words of scripture): we will ‘read’ from the book of creation. As we slowly wander a path through the woods we will alternately listen (to short readings; questions or prompts), perceive, meditate, share observations, walk, stand and sit.

about the facilitator

Leanne has been a community development worker, trainer of camp leaders, writer, high school drama teacher, grief support facilitator, and theology student, and has been a lover of both the woods and Jesus since she can remember. Her recent experience of homeschooling led to new ways of seeing and being in the woods; and her experience of a Theology course in Contemplative Prayer led to new ways of knowing and understanding prayer. Together, these discoveries have opened a space for praying in a way that is instinctive, gentle and powerful, and she has been sharing it with others whenever she can.

the title of the workshop - like a tree planted by streams of water - in a rainbow style design with a photo of a woman with a flower in her hair in the background
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Laudato Si’: What is it, why is it, and how might one use it?

with Sabrina M. Chiefari

Laudato Si’ was written to all of humanity from Pope Francis about care for our common home. In this session, participants are invited to take in an overview of the letter and the impact it is having around the world. We will explore questions around the document and how it can be used in care for Creation, decolonization, and climate justice.

about the facilitator

Sabrina (she/her), BES, is a Catholic Environmental Educator from Tkaronto/Toronto. As Creation Care Animator for the Sisters of St. Joseph of Toronto, she’s a long time proponent of Deep Ecology and Integral Ecology. Her work centers on community engagement, outdoor education and environmental well-being. She uses story-telling, community action and spiritual thought to help all people understand how to act wisely towards our water, air and earth.

the title of the workshop - laudato si' - in a rainbow design in front of a picture of the facilitator leaning against a tree
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Drag as a Spiritual Practice: Theology and Performance Art

with Julian Munro / King Julez

What is Drag? This workshop will go over the history of the art form, and very key figures in the development and popularization of the art. Participants will learn the different forms of drag, queer performance, theatre, and music. Through this workshops, participants will be guided through different skills and themes that artists have needed through the ages, and how drag can now fit into religious spheres as an expression of theology.

about the facilitator

Julian/ King Julez (they/them) is the chair of Affirm United/S’affirmer Ensemble, a national non-profit organization that works for full inclusion and affirmation of 2S-LGBTQ+ folks in religious spaces and in all of society, and a board member for Student Christian Movement. After getting a BA in Diversity and Equity, King Julez is studying their Masters of Divinity with the goal of becoming a drag clown reverend with their own congregation to serve.

the title of the workshop - Drag as a spiritual practice - in a rainbow design with the painted face of the facilitator behind the title but still visible
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Drag Story-Sharing Time and Face-Painting

with Julian Munro / King Julez

This session will be a sharing time of children’s stories, poems, and scriptures with optional face-painting! King Julez will be answering questions about what it means to be a drag clown and how that works in their work as a student and future ordinand in the United Church of Canada. There will be opportunities for participants to draw/colour up different reflections to each piece of reading (on paper and/or their face).

about the facilitator

Julian/ King Julez (they/them) is the chair of Affirm United/S’affirmer Ensemble, a national non-profit organization that works for full inclusion and affirmation of 2S-LGBTQ+ folks in religious spaces and in all of society, and a board member for Student Christian Movement. After getting a BA in Diversity and Equity, King Julez is studying their Masters of Divinity with the goal of becoming a drag clown reverend with their own congregation to serve.

the title of the workshop - Drag Story Sharing time and Face painting - in a rainbow style with the colourful face of the facilitator centered behind the title
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Connecting with Creation

with Eleanor Reed

Research has shown that spending time in nature is good for our mental, physical and spiritual health. We will take a gentle walk through the woods and take time to appreciate the sounds, colours and variety of species. In particular we will notice plants that don’t belong and discuss the implications.

about the facilitator

Eleanor loves nature and experiences God there. She is a forester and steward of a farm/forest in Kawartha Lakes.

a rainbow coloured title of the workshop - Connecting with Creation - against the backdrop of the woman facilitating the workshop
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