Eagle Spirits of the Great Waters Indigenous Arts and Cultures is an Indigenous-led non-profit born from an urgent need in Treaty 14 Territory, now known as Mississauga, Ontario. The City of Mississauga was created without Indigenous participation. Residents who wanted to connect with Indigenous cultures and knowledge had to go outside the city. To meet this need, our three co-founders formed Eagle Spirits of the Great Waters in 2018 to reclaim, revive, and make space for diverse Indigenous cultures and voices. Since then, a growing community of people from all backgrounds are discovering and connecting with Indigenous cultures.
OUR STORY
OUR MISSION
We create an Indigenous-led community of diverse Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples by providing an inclusive space and culturally rooted programs and teachings.
OUR VISION
We envision a city where Indigenous cultures are vibrant, vital, and visible.
OUR VALUES
We are guided by foundational values that inform our actions and programs. We believe:
- We are all related: The city can be an isolating place. Everyone has an inherent right to belong. We welcome everyone as kin.
- Culture is medicine: Connection to culture, language, and tradition is essential to healing, resilience, and mental wellness.
- Intergenerational knowledge is the future: Elders’ teachings and youth’s energy are equally vital for a healthy community and a better future.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Barry Gilbert
President
Lynn Taylor
Treasurer
Kaitlyn Wilcox
Secretary
Joyce Taylor
Director Arts & Projects
Miguel Turato
Director
Allison Leroux
Director
Steven Gwartz
Director
Austin VanDerStarren
Director
Randi Jacobs
Director
Michael Taylor
Director
CULTURAL ADVISORS
Philip Cote
Young Spiritual Elder
Reva-Marie
Peters-Ackroyd
Chef and Culinary Advisor
ADVISORS
Professor John Danahy
Deborah Goss
Cathleen MacDonald
Michael Scholz
