Midwest SOARRING Foundation (MSF) Logo
Ojibwey Calendar

Ojibwe Calendar
By Nick Hockings -
Ojibwe Elder

Past Events >

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

For up to date events join the Midwest SOARRING Foundation email newsletter list for upcoming calendar event notifications click here.

 

UPCOMING EVENTS:

VIRTUAL PRESENTATION: REAL STORY OF THE TACONITE
SULFATE LEGACY
Sulfate Pollution from the Minnesota Taconite Industry

Wednesday, April 1, 2026 - 10am CT
Co-sponsored by Midwest SOARRING Foundation
and Tamarack Water Alliance of Minnesota

REGISTER for Zoom link: https://www.midwestsoarring.org/joinup.php?eid=23

Minnesota ranks #1 in the United States for wild rice production, both naturally grown and cultivated Wild rice is very sensitive to sulfide contamination. Anishinaabe seasonally harvest tens of thousands of acres of wild rice in Northeastern Minnesota’s undisturbed watersheds Manoomin is sacred to their way of life.

Pristine water quality must be maintained for wild rice to germinate, grow, and survive. Sulfates bound in glacial/bedrock geology are released when the water is disturbed due to mining, endangering wild rice fields. Many lakes and streams around the Great Lakes have already lost their wild rice. Wild rice is hard to restore once it is gone.

Minnesota’s wild rice sulfate standard limits sulfates to 10 parts per million (ppm or mgL) in wild rice waters. However, this standard is NOT enforced resulting endangering the wild rice beds that are so important to the Ojibwe / Anishinaabe culture and livelyhood.

Story of Taconite Sulfate Legacy is presented by The Mining Guys Chris Baldwin, Mike Maleska, and Andy Baldwin.

The bioaccumulation effects of 50 + years of taconite mining is clearly visible in brown vegetation seen in the aerial photographs taken last June, of all the taconite tailings piles and indicate many years of 'underflow' seepage. The long term 'wishful thinking' policy of sulfate containment and remediation is that there is 'not enough to worry about.' Yet, scientific examination of public sampling data collected monthly for fifty years indicates there is reason to advocate for a moratorium on new mining permits and reexamination of the 1979 regional study.

Chris Baldwin, a retired Mine Engineer, graduate of Colorado School of Mines and currently residing in Hibbing, MN. He was a Mine Manager and engineer for 20 years at Keewatin Taconite, and 4 years at Minorca, and recently, 7 years as Technical Services Superintendent at Haile Gold Mine, a sulfide mine, in South Carolina. He has designed and constructed in both underground and surface mines and helped permit and start up a sulfide gold mine. Now, he makes hand drums and provide drum making workshops to promote community building and water quality awareness in wild rice waters in Minnesota.

Michael Maleska, retired taconite miner, lifelong resident of the rural Hibbing area of NE Minnesota. In 1977 he hired-on at Eveleth Taconite Company as a laborer. He became a member of the United Steelworkers of America, eventually elected to the office of Local Union President - overseeing all union/company activities, retiring in November of 1979. His family has always been very outdoors-oriented: BWCA, harvesting wild rice, fishing, camping, hunting, and planting 10's of 1,000's of trees.

Andy Baldwin, Chris's son grew up in Hibbing, Minnesota. He has an undergrad degree in biology from Montana State University, and a master's in secondary science education from the University of Washington in Tacoma. He's not currently teaching in the classroom, but enjoys teaching guitar lessons and volunteering as a math tutor. Science communication has been his long term passion, and lately that has become more and more important as he applys what he knows about classroom teaching to public outreach in Northern Minnesota

 

SPRING EQUINOX CEREMONY

Friday, March 20, 2026 10:30am
MCKee House
Churchill Woods Forest Preserve
1017 St. Charles Road
Glen Ellyn, IL 60138

SOARRING invites you to join our Spring Equinox Ceremony in front of the McKee House in Churchill Woods in Glen Ellyn. With the transition of every season, we gather together in ceremony. All are welcome to share in this tradition. Please dress according to the weather. This event will take place rain or shine.

 

WINTER SOLTICE CEREMONY

Sunday, December 21, 2025 11:00am
MCKee House
Churchill Woods Forest Preserve
1017 St. Charles Road
Glen Ellyn, IL 60138

SOARRING invites you to join our Winter Solstice Ceremony in front of the McKee House in Churchill Woods in Glen Ellyn. With the transition of every season, we gather together in ceremony. All are welcome to share in this tradition. Please dress according to the weather. This event will take place rain or shine.

 

SOARRING VOLUNTEER HOLIDAY PARTY & ANNUAL MEMBERS MEETING

Saturday December 5, 2025 from 4pm - 9pm
Pilcher Park Nature Center
2501 Highland Park Drive
Joliet, IL.60432

This gathering is a celebration of the community we build by the work we do. Please bring a side dish or desert to share. Main entrees, rolls, and beverages will be provided.

The annual members meeting will be held at 4pm. This will be followed by a candlelit walk at 5pm, and a 6pm dinner and fellowship. At 7pm we will take turns decorating the Christmas tree with your special ornament. Bring your own handmade ornament or borrow one of ours. We will take turns sharing the special meaning of each ornament and then hang them on our tree. The tree will stay decorated until after the holidays, on display at the Nature Center.

This event is free and open to all 2024 Midwest SOARRING volunteers and current members. Memberships can be renewed at the event. You can also renew online at https://www.midwestsoarring.org/joinup.php. No cost to paid members and volunteers, otherwise $10 per person. This is a drug and alcohol free event.

 

MIDWEST SOARRING 29th ANNUAL HARVEST POW WOW

Saturday, October 11, 11am-9pm
Sunday, October 12, 2025 11am-5pm
DuPage County Fairgrounds
2015 N. Manchester Road,
Wheaton, IL

Join us for the Annual Midwest SOARRING Foundation Harvest Pow Wow. Bring your friends and family-- all are welcome at our family fun event. Our traditional Powwow is a time to celebrate life, renew friendships, and share our Native American culture through dance, drumming, art, and story telling. View the schedule and learn more at: Harvest Powwow.com

Highlights include a canoe exhibit, Incredible Bats & More, Ocelotl-Cihaucoatl Aztec Dancers, Hula 'O' Pua Dancers, Native flute playing, children's crafts, a veteran's honoring and of course plenty of Native American Dancing and Drumming throughout the day.

GRAND ENTRY: Saturday 1pm & 7pm, Sunday 1pm
GATE ADMISSION: Adults $17, Seniors 62+ $12, Kids 3-12 $7, under 3 free. $30 Adult weekend pass. Discounted tickets available online ($14 Adults, $11 Seniors, Kids $6, weekend pass $26) purchase by 10/04/25 at harvestpowwow.com/tickets.html. Call for group ticket price 773.585.8613.

Download Harvest Pow Wow Flyer
Download Vendor Application

 

SOARRING MEDICINE WHEEL GARDEN KEEPERS

Sat. Oct. 4, Thurs. Oct. 16, 2025 4pm-6pm
Heritage Village - Midwest SOARRING's Fire Circle
249 W. Second Street
Lockport, IL.60441

Join us as we tend to the Medicine Wheel garden, deepen our relationship with the land, and learn from one another in a spirit of respect and stewardship.

Our Medicine Wheel Garden is a space designed in the shape of a traditional medicine wheel, with four quadrants representing the four directions, the cycles of life, and our connection to all living things.

Please bring gloves, dress for the weather, and bring provisions to be comfortable (a cushion to sit on, water bottle, snacks, sunscreen, hat.)

 

FIRESIDE WISDOM: HONORING THE TRUTH OF OUR ELDERS

Wedesday, September 24, 11am-4pm
Elgin Community College
1700 Spartan Dr. - Lakeside Patio B Elgin, IL 60123

All are welcome to gather around the fire with Midwest SOARRING President Joseph Standing Bear Schranz for timely teachings in this community listening circle.

Experience hand drum and jingle dress dancing by Sergio and Maritza, plus songs and stories from Algonquin/Metís flute player Bill Buchholtz Allison. Baked goods will be provided by previous Midwest SOARRING Princess and baker, Abaigeal Dempsey from Dempsey Cookie House!

 

FALL EQUINOX CELEBRATION

Saturday, September 21, 11am
Medicine Wheel Garden
Heritage Village
Lockport, IL

SOARRING invites you to join our Fall Equinox Ceremony at the Medicine Wheel Garden at the Heritage Village in Lockport.

 

MIDWEST SOARRING CULTURAL SHOWCASE

Sunday, September 14, 11am-4pm
Lockport Lincoln Landing
200 W 9th St, Lockport, IL 60441

Enjoy our Native American Cultural Showcase and Sweet Savory Crawl of Lockport. All Welcome. Family friendly event.

Event takes place rain or shine. No weapons, drugs, or alcohol. Sorry no pets. Bring lawn chairs, friends, family and neighbors!. Event subject to change.

 

HEALING CEREMONY AT FIRE CIRCLE

Sunday, June 29, 2025 12pm
Heritage Village Medicine Wheel Garden Circle
249 W. Second Street
Lockport, IL.60441

Led by Midwest SOARRING Foundation President Joseph Standing Bear, this ceremony offers a space for spiritual and emotional healing. All are welcome—whether you are seeking healing for yourself, for a loved one, or simply wish to stand in support of those in need. Together, we will gather in community, reconnect with the medicine of the fire, and lift our prayers for strength, renewal, and wellness.

Please dress for the weather and bring a chair or blanket for your comfort.

 

SOARRING FIELD TRIP: MINOHSAYAKI 'PAINTED ROBES'- A PEEWAALIA AND MYAAMIA STORY OF RECLAMATION

RESCHEDULED:Saturday, June 28, 2025 Noon
Illinois State Museum
Lockport Gallery
201 W. 10th Street
Lockport, IL.60441

Midwest SOARRING Foundation invites you to join us for a special field trip to the Illinois State Museum Lockport Gallery to experience Minohsayaki ‘Painted Robes’: A Peewaalia and Myaamia Story of Reclamation. This exhibit shares the powerful story of collaboration between the Peewaaliaki (Peoria Tribe), Myaamiaki (Miami Tribe), and non-Native scholars as they work together to reclaim the ancestral tradition of hide painting.

Through historical reflection and revitalized artistry, Minohsayaki shines a light on cultural preservation, intergenerational knowledge, and Indigenous resilience.

We will meet at the gallery entrance at 12:00 PM. This event is free and open to all—come learn, witness, and walk with us on this journey of reclamation.

 

SOARRING WOMEN'S CIRCLE

Saturday, June 28, 2025 2-4pm
Heritage Village Medicine Wheel Garden Circle
249 W. Second Street
Lockport, IL.60441

SOARRING's Women's Circle is open to all women seeking connection, healing, and sisterhood. Our theme is “Return to the Fire – Reconnecting with Nature, Spirit, and Sisterhood,” and we’ll gather in community to reflect, create, and share under the sky.

As part of this first gathering, we’ll also work together to help maintain and tend the fire circle—a physical act of care and stewardship for the land we gather on. Please bring gloves, a shovel if you have one, and wear clothes you don’t mind getting a little dirty. After sprucing up the space, we’ll build a fire together to open our time in ceremony.

We’ll continue with the Haudenosaunee Thanksgiving Address, followed by nature-inspired art, empowerment rituals, and a healing circle. Whether it’s your first time or you’ve been with us before, you are welcome here.

Mark your calendars—SOARRING Women’s Circle will meet on the first Saturday of each month moving forward.

 

MEDICINE WHEEL GARDEN KEEPERS

Saturday, June 7, 2025 4pm
Heritage Village Medicine Wheel Garden Circle
249 W. Second Street
Lockport, IL.60441

Join us as we launch a new community-centered gardening group dedicated to the care and preservation of our Medicine Wheel Garden at Heritage Village. We’ll meet twice a month to tend the garden, deepen our relationship with the land, and learn from one another in a spirit of respect and stewardship.

The Medicine Wheel Garden is designed in the shape of a traditional medicine wheel, with four quadrants representing the four directions, the cycles of life, and our connection to all living things. Two quadrants are planted with sweetgrass and two with prairie sage, both of which hold deep cultural and spiritual significance in Native traditions.

Plant List

Our first gathering will be held on Saturday, June 7, 2025 at 4:00 PM, following the SOARRING Women’s Circle. We’ll begin with an introduction to the garden, share our intentions for this new group, and do some light tending of the space. Please bring gloves, water, and any tools you’d like to use or share. All are welcome—whether you’re a seasoned gardener or simply drawn to caring for this special place.

 

MEDICINE WHEEL GARDEN KEEPERS

RESCHEDULED: Thursday, May 22, 2025 5-7pm
Heritage Village Medicine Wheel Garden Circle
249 W. Second Street
Lockport, IL.60441

Join us in tending to our Medicine Wheel garden at Heritage Village. All are welcome to plant sweetgrass with us, and learn about our Medicine Wheel project for this year. Everyone will be able to take home some sweetgrass, too. Please bring your hand tools and water bottles, and dress for the weather.

We would be honored to incorporate any native plants you may be interested in donating to this special garden project.

 

SOARRING INVITATION: THE GREAT LISTENING

January 28, 2025 from 4pm - 9pm
Elgin Community College
Room B180 & Zoom 1700 Spartan Drive
Elgin, IL.60123

Part two of Ancestral & Intercultural Healing with Dr. Lyla June Johnston will feature the famous Diné scholar, musician, and community leader, who brings teachings in this continued community conversation focused on intercultural and intergenerational healing, traditional land stewardship practices, and Indigenous rights.

Feel free to attend via Zoom or in-person.

 

Past Events >

 


Copyright - Midwest SOARRING Foundation