The Thirteen Moons FDLTCC Extension Program, Ashi-Niswi Giizisoog, with the Environmental Institute at FDLTCC hosted several fun events for community members this holiday season. Attendees learned how to make handmade tortillas, tamales, wreaths, and birch bark ornaments during events over the last month. The extension program has more fun events planned for the rest of the winter including the 2023 Gichi Manidoo Giizis Traditional Pow Wow on January 13th and 14th at the Otter Creek Event Center at Black Bear Casino and Hotel.

During the Wreath Making Workshop on November 19, professional wreath maker, Lurinda Defoe, taught participants how to create festive holiday wreaths. The Tortillas and Tamales Making Workshop on December 17 featured lessons on handmade tamales and tortillas from Bimaaji’idiwin Garden Program and Producer Training Program Coordinator, Erika Resendiz Alonso. Also on December 17, attendees learn to make detailed drum ornaments during the Birch Bark Ornament Workshop.

The 2023 Gichi Manidoo Giizis Traditional Pow Wow hosted by the Thirteen Moons FDLTCC Extension Program will celebrate taking care of the land and community.

The mission of the 2023 Gichi Manidoo Giizis Traditional Pow Wow is to bring together community members and federal, tribal, and state organizations to learn from one another about how we take care of the land and community. Representatives from organizations will be available to answer questions and provide information on sustainable agriculture, natural resources programs for land owners, and education and career opportunities through college and university programs. In addition, those representatives will learn from community member’s the traditions of the Anishinaabe culture, language and best practices of taking care of the land and community. The pow wow on January 13 and 14 is free and open to everyone. For more information, visit https://fdltcc.edu/event/gichi-manidoo-giizis-great-spirit-moon-pow-wow-2023/.

For more information on the Thirteen Moons FDLTCC Extension Program or other programs with the Environmental Institute at FDLTCC, please visit https://fdltcc.edu/environmental-institute/ or contact the Environmental Institute Director, Courtney Kowalczak, at courtneyk*AT*fdltcc.edu.

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I chose FDLTCC because of its size and the curriculum. When I first came here in 2019, I was just looking for what I needed to volunteer, perhaps in a crisis shelter. I met with Don Jarvinen, and the rest is history.

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