b'COMMUNITYJOURNEYING TOGETHERA season of change By Helen SmithT he annual Canada goose fall migration inparticipation in certain initiatives. Shifting to a virtual Winnipeg is an unforgettable sightand sound,forum with the 2020 National Gathering was a chal-and smell. Over 120,000 of the iconic birds alllenge that Indspire was eager to pursue, and it turned come together from various origin points in the northout to be a fruitful one. We collectively explored new to land on area lakes in a stunning display of cohesion,territory while continuing to support educators and power and unity. No matter where they originate,facilitate good conversations. Educators told us that this no matter how they arrive at the muster point, theynew forum for working was a very positive one:are all ready for a remarkable family reunion inIve never been to an in-person gatheringthough Ive Treaty 1 territory.heard they are amazing. Virtual just makes everything This particular season is one when change is mostso much more accessible. Travel, expense, booking extra dramatic everywhere. Colours blaze out on everytime away from work and physical accessibility are real branch, daylight ebbs away, minute by minute, andbarriers. Virtual was so lovely!animals are on the move.I actually think virtual gave me a broader opportunity Autumn is also a time of movement and transformationto sit in many more workshops than if I had been for us, as well as all our relations, and we cant forgetthere live.that we are a part of it. We too migrate back to school,Some educators, who had already been delivering to different schedules at work. We start new regimens,curriculum remotely, found it reassuringly familiar. They change our diets and modify our schedules to accom- told us:modate the shorter, cooler days. Sweaters, hats and mittens come out of storage, andpumpkin spice jokesIt was awesome. I have been working remotely with asidewe welcome the opportunity to enjoy all themy students on and off over the past year and a half. gifts of the Earth that this season has to offer.Because we built relationships when I could be present One of the myriad impacts that the COVID-19 pandemicin the community, we slid very easily into virtual lessons. has had on communities throughout Turtle Island, bothAnd that experience let me navigate and utilize the [event] in the very best way.Indigenous and non-Indigenous, is the disruption of this seasonal confluence in ways that are so profound thatHowever, there is something uniquely special about were still recovering from them, and compensatingin-person gatherings, a sentiment that was echoed for them.over and over again during the 2022 pow-wow season, when many pow wows resumed in person. (There Pivoting to online spaces, drawing everyone togetheris a very good reason that many virtual conference for virtual gatherings, was essential for communityinterfaces are configured to look like real-world confer-health and safety, and, in many ways, enabled widerence spaces, with virtual avatars of attendees walking 40indspiration2022'