In a heartbeat: Wabano’s drum-themed gala supports Indigenous health, culture

Calian Group CEO Kevin Ford had no idea what to expect when he agreed to be the new gala committee chair of Wabano’s Igniting the Spirit Gala, held Thursday at the Ottawa Conference and Event Centre.

The prominent business leader had never been to the cultural extravaganza before and knew very little about Wabano, an award-winning health and cultural centre that serves Indigenous people of every background, including First Nations, Inuit and Métis. It’s located on Montreal Road in Vanier.

What motivated him to accept the volunteer leadership role was his desire to learn more about the organization. “How come I don’t know about this place? Not really. I mean, I’ve heard of it but I never really appreciated the importance,” Ford told OBJ.social. “That’s why I’m here. It’s about ‘Wake up, Kevin. Come on out and take a look’.”

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Calian Group, which specializes in IT and cybersecurity, health, advanced technologies and learning solutions, has come up with its own policy focused on establishing meaningful relationships with its Indigenous partners. 

Indigenous engagement at Calian is not simply a “ticking the box” exercise, Ford emphasized. “To me, it’s something — as a company and as an individual — I think we all know there’s lots to learn, and we can learn through events like this one.”

Ford was left amazed and virtually speechless by the traditional drumming, dancing and singing that he witnessed that night during the riveting cultural presentation. “Holy moly. Wow,” Ford said in describing how much he loved the performance. It featured Juno Award-winning The Bearhead Sisters, Southern Thunderbird Medicine Drum, contemporary and hoop dancers, and involved the talented likes of Indigenous storyteller Christine Friday and contemporary choreographer Maggie Shew. The artists danced on and around a circular stage erected in the middle of the banquet room. A giant glowing drum replica was suspended from the ceiling, creating a dramatic milieu.

Wabano’s long-time executive director, Allison Fisher, is the visionary leader behind the gala.

The artists earned a standing ovation from the 600-plus attendees of the sold-out dinner, held on the eve of National Indigenous Peoples Day. 

“What a way to tell a story,” remarked Shelagh Rogers, who was back to emcee the gala with her usual warmth, compassion and gentle humour. The retired CBC broadcaster is just days away from becoming the next chancellor of Queen’s University. 

The theme of this year’s event centred around the Indigenous drum, which complemented Ford’s musical side. He’s an avid guitar player and formidable supporter of live local music. It had been Fisher who’d met with Ford about chairing the fundraising gala. Helping in the recruitment was Calian board chair George Weber (he became familiar with Wabano from his former days as chief executive of the Royal Ottawa Health Care Group). Fisher told OBJ.social she’s always looking to introduce the organization to new audiences. “I have a city to educate.”

The gala was fortunate to have Rogers TV’s Daytime host and producer, Derick Fage, lead the auction in such an upbeat and lively way. He sold more than a dozen items, including an Arctic cruise for two, donated by Adventure Canada. It went for $20,000. There was also a raffle for a $6,000-trip for four to Quebec City, courtesy of VIA Rail, Fairmont Le Château Frontenac and Hôtel-Musée Premières Nations.

For Ottawa-Vanier MP Mona Fortier, the gala is one of her favourites. She was seen perusing the hundreds of silent auction items, trying to decide where to place her bids. The selection included an array of artwork, handmade goods, accessories, jewelry and basket sets.

Attendees also included Ottawa Police Chief Eric Stubbs, Montfort Hospital president and CEO Dominic Giroux and Queensway Carleton Hospital president and CEO Dr. Andrew Falconer. Spotted from the Wabano board were its chair, Justice of the Peace Louise Logue, and such board members as Bridge Building Group lead facilitator Melissa Hammell, Hydro Ottawa general counsel and corporate secretary Shaun Logue, and Jennifer Francis, an Ottawa high-tech mentor, advisor and investor.

Francis has been volunteering with Wabano since 2013. She’s seen the Igniting the Spirit Gala evolve over that time into a “top-tiered” event. “It sells out in days, versus pounding the pavement just to get the last tickets sold,” she noted.

The gala also had more sponsors this year than ever before, with TD Bank and Sudbury-based Shkagamik-Kwe Health Centre leading the way.

Igniting the Spirit Gala never fails to captivate its audience, whether through its choreographed cultural performances or through the powerful Wabano video produced by SandBay Entertainment. As well, Fisher, a gifted storyteller, took to the main stage to share her message about this year’s theme of Drum: The Heartbeat of Mother Earth.

She reminded everyone how the first sound one hears is the heart beat of one’s own mother before birth, and how it marks the beginning of our story. 

Fisher recalled the first time she heard the sound of the drum, when the pow wow first returned to her First Nation community of Wikwemikong, on Manitoulin Island. The year was 1961 — only 10 years after Indigenous people were legally allowed to gather in groups, and one year after they received the right to vote. “The sound was pure, clear, strong, and true,” Fisher said of the four Cree male elders who sang and drummed together on a single drum. “The spirit beat carried throughout the entire community.”

She spoke of how the drum empowered and inspired her people, who once felt invisible, to dream again. It also served as “the heart beat” for Wabano when it first opened its doors in 1998. Its first location was a former music shop. Today, the organization serves more than 18,000 people annually. 

“Tonight, each one of you is proof that this big audacious dream is coming to fruition,” said Fisher. “We look at the dancers in their majestic regalia, the traditional singers and families, the creative artwork that tells our stories, the drum and drummers, and we see value, their distinctiveness and their beauty.”

Fisher shared her hope “that we hear the heartbeat of Mother Earth that has been crying out to us, reminding us of Creator’s original instruction to walk gently on the earth and to do each other no harm.”