An Anishinaabe Elder and Wisdom Keeper was sought out to lead the opening and closing ceremonies at an expo held at a post-secondary educational institution. She attempted to contact the organizers several times leading up to the event, but they failed to provide her with the necessary information. As a result, she missed the opening ceremony.
Upon her arrival, they refused to apologize, and she viewed this as an affront against her as an Anishinaabe Elder.
The Centre negotiated a settlement that included:
- A written apology from the organizers;
- An agreement to refer to the guideline, Aboriginal Elders and Community Workers in Schools: A Guide for School Divisions and Their Partners, as a resource for future events;
- The guide was recognized as providing valuable cultural information, expectations and protocols in interacting with Elders.