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This event took place at Curry College, but was open to the general public. I had to pre-register online using the QR code.

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The leaders of the event explained that they chose to call the event, "We Are Still Here" because they believe people often view indigenous people as a part of history. However, they are still here and still practice their traditions and beliefs which deserve to be celebrated and respected. I am happy I chose this as one of my cultural events. The nature of the event being an open conversation made for an interactive learning experience.

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At the beginning of the event, all of the participants were invited outside to participate in a smudging ceremony. Medicine Spirit Laughing Eyes explained that they burn a combination of four things: tobacco, sage, sweetgrass, and cedar. Chief Ladybug explained to me that they perform the smudging ceremony which serves the purpose of cleansing and purifying your spirit, as they pray for the person they are performing it on. They explained that this is something that is customary for indigenous people to do at the beginning of a ceremony, as it prepares the body. They invited us each up one by one, explained the ritual and ended it with the word "A-ho" which means Amen. This was a unique experience that allowed me to feel more closely connected to their culture and values.

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One of the topics of discussion was the traditional indigenous regalia that Chief Ladybug and Laughing Eyes were both wearing. They emphasized that their dress is called regalia, not costume. They also explained that it would be disrespectful to take photos of them in their regalia without permission, as they might be wearing something that was passed down from their ancestors that is sacred to them. They described that what they dress in, is closely connected to their identity. Chief Ladybug was dressed in a ribbon dress and Laughing Eyes was dressed in a ribbon shirt. Ribbon shirts and dresses are commonly worn by indigenous people and should not be appropriated in the form of costumes. Chief Ladybug explained that she also sometimes wears a shawl, as many indigenous women perform shawl dances. Laughing Eyes wore a sash that had badges for his military service, as well symbolism of his people, the Iroquois. He also wore a necklace with the tooth of a wolf, as this is his spirit animal.

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Chief Ladybug answered a question from the group on the proper way/thing to call them. She explained that "native americans" is a term created by colonialists, which is why they do not identify with that word. Within their own community, they call each other indians, but that is not something that others should call them. As a person outside of the community, I should use the term indigenous people, rather than indians or native americans.

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Chief Ladybug and Laughing Eyes explained how difficult it was for them growing up as indigenous people in this country. They did not feel respected for their heritage and cultural practices, and only discussed it with family. Up until the 70s, they kept that part of their life hidden away in secrecy, unless with their family or at their own cultural events. However, they now feel a responsibility to advocate for their people and educate people on their culture. Chief Ladybug believes that because they hid their culture and its history away, people felt comfortable appropriating their dress and traditions. She feels that once people are educated and understand the sacredness of their practices, they will be less likely to appropriate them.

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After the question and answer portion of the event, we learned and participated in a traditional dance circle. The women and men dance differently, with the women doing a simple two step, and the men doing more diving movements with their arms. They dance to songs played by drummers. We got the chance to listen to one of the songs and dance in a circle with Chief Ladybug and Laughing Eyes. They mentioned that at Powwows, dance circles last for hours and people of all ages and abilities join in on the joyous occasion. The beat of the drum is thought to be the beat of their mother's heart and they feel a sense of spirituality and shared joy throughout the dance.

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Chief Ladybug explained that she is from the Croatan tribe, while Laughing Eyes is from the Iroquois tribe. While there is a lot of overlap in their traditions, they are also very different. They explained that it is incorrect to lump all indigenous people together, when they all have different stories and traditions. The pair explained they had a lot to learn about each other when they met and got married.

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This workshop taught me the importance of staying open and curious about different cultures. Chief Ladybug and Laughing Eyes said it is good to ask questions and be curious, as they are happy to share their culture and educate other people. When working with our future clients it will be important to be interested, open, and curious about different cultural practices that make up their roles, habits, routines, and rituals. It is important that they feel comfortable to share this part of their lives with you, if they wish to do so. You may not know the history and unique life experiences that may make sharing their culture feel unsafe. Staying educated on the history and context of cultural practices is important to providing culturally sensitive care that is both respectful and meaningful to the client.

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Laughing eyes explaining the way the men typically dance during Powwows.