Tag: Cahoots Fest

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Befriending your stressed-out nervous system

(12+)

with Esther Townshend

Do you ever feel like your body is fighting against you? Are you often feeling burnt out or stressed without knowing how to feel better? These signs could actually be your body giving you important messages about how to feel better! This workshop will discuss strategies for better understanding your body’s signals, and how to use these practices to release stress and calm your body and yourself.

about the facilitator

Esther Townshend 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. Her favourite stress relief practices include yoga, singing, walks by the lake, tea and chocolate.

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Dancing for self care

(all ages)

with Sheilagh McGlynn (she/her)

Activists of all types are at risk of burning out – we have high hopes, strong expectations, and passionate feelings! If this sounds like you or someone you know, experience this practice of tending to our needs in physical exploration, so that we can keep working for change in our world. We will move to music in ways that energize and as a meditation – sometimes a very vibrant meditation! Bodies and mobility forms of all types are welcome. You may find laughter, tears, and joy through your expression as you build your resiliency and capacity.

about the facilitator

Sheilagh is the Anglican Church of Canada’s Animator for Youth Ministries. Prior to her current position, she worked at the Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund as their Youth and Young Adult program staff. She is former staff with the Student Christian Movement. She feels passionate about working for justice as a form of spiritual expression. She is also a Registered Psychotherapist, a JourneyDance and Nia instructor – working with people to get out of their brains and into their bodies. When she isn’t working, you might find her dancing, cooking in her kitchen or riding her bike along the Martin Goodman Trail.

colourful image announcing workshop titled dancing for self care. portrait style picture
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To Cancel or Not to Cancel?

(16+)

with Isaiah Ritzmann

Cancelling, shunning, social boycotting – call it what you will, this tactic for accountability has gone mainstream over the last decade. As the practice has grown it has attracted both controversy and confusion. Is it ethical? Is it effective? This workshop explores cancelling as one tool within our social change toolbox & considers the right contexts for its use. By looking at its history of use both within liberation struggles and religious communities we navigate the tricky questions about how to use social boycotts in morally unproblematic and strategically mindful ways.

about the facilitator

Isaiah Ritzmann (he/him) has been part of the Cahoots “extended family” since the inception of the festival in 2014. A facilitator of community-based learning on sustainability, democracy, & degrowth in Kitchener, Ontario (Haldimand Tract), he also helps coordinate a home-based hospitality network called Open Homes that serves newly arrived refugee claimants. A deep believer that effective nonviolent strategies exist that can help us avoid climate catastrophe, he is excited to explore these in conversation with others.

promotional image for a workshop at a radical festival called cahoots. the picture is of a male presenting person with a light beard and glasses, and the title - to cancel or not to cancel - is made to look like a rainbow
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Creative Movement

with Jubilene Brewster-Wild

In this workshop, we will explore the various ways that movement can be created. Participants will work together or alone and use verbal and written prompts to discover their own movement style. After creating a short phrase of movements, we will select certain moves from everybody’s piece and weave them together to create a group dance. No experience required!

about the facilitator

Jubilene is a grade 12 dance major at Rosedale Heights School of the Arts. She enjoys trying new dance styles and learning from choreographers in contemporary dance circles.

promotional image for a workshop at a radical festival called cahoots. the picture is of a female presenting girl jumping in the air and the title - creative movement - is made to look like a rainbow
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Oracular Poetry: Listening to Your Inner Wisdom

(12+)

with Jonathon Reed

Join Jonathon for one of the most captivating arts-based activities he ever experienced as part of Partners for Youth Empowerment: the simultaneously mystical and realist mini art project called oracular poetry. Participants will work mostly independently but also with partners to reflect on a big question they want answered through the workings of their spirit and creativity. You don’t need to be good at poetry, but you should be open to reflecting and thinking to yourself while instrumental music plays in the background. See you at the oracle!

about the facilitator

Jonathon has a BEd and MEd and works as Youth Program Manager with a national organization called Next Gen Men. He has a thousand years of experience working with kids and just as much love.

promotional image for a workshop at a radical festival called cahoots. the picture is of the facilitator, male presenting, and the title - oracular poetry - is made to look like a rainbow
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Cookie Mining: How the Canadian Mining Industry Is Destroying the Planet and What We Can Do About It

with Dean Dettloff + Emily Lukasik + Kiegan Irish + Luke Stocking

Mining and extractives are some of the most dangerous industries for land defenders and the environment around the world. Around 75% of mining companies are headquartered in Canada! This hands-on workshop starts with ‘Cookie Mining’, an easy all-ages activity that illustrates mining’s impact on land and homes. Then the group will split off into deeper, age-appropriate discussions about mining, its impacts on communities (especially in the Global South), and what people of faith can do about it in Canada.

about the facilitators

Dean is the Central Ontario Animator for Development and Peace, a section editor at Geez Magazine, and adjunct faculty at the Institute for Christian Studies. He is also co-host of The Magnificast, a podcast about Christianity and leftist politics, and has a cool story about Christian anarchists making short shorts out of roadkill. Emily is the East Ontario Animator for Development and Peace and a professional stage actor. She is a master crafter and knows a lot about making buttons and screen-printed tees. Kiegan is the West Ontario Animator for Development and Peace. He has worked in frontline services for unhoused people. He can play guitar and knows a lot about niche mid-00s hardcore music. Luke is the Public Engagement Director for Development and Peace and a columnist for the Catholic Register. He is also really good at Bananagrams.

promotional image for a workshop at a radical festival called cahoots. the picture is of a mining organization and the title is made to look like a rainbow
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Bicycle Mechanics 101 (Fix Your Own Bike)

(12+)

with Mark Graves

After a successful session last year showing us how to bikepack and stealth camp, Mark is back this year with his bike, but using it to show us how to fix ours! Come and learn about your tires, gears, chain and basic set-up.

about the facilitator

Mark is a cycling enthusiast, ordained minister, corporate trainer and part-time bicycle mechanic. He is a passionate advocate and evangelist of seeing the world from the seat of a bicycle.

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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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