Wolfe Island Music And Creative Arts Retreat and Workshop for Social Justice

Event Gallary

Aug 26 – Aug 28, 2022

Wolfe Island, Ontario traditional territory of the Huron-Wendat and Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) peoples.

The venue was Hotel Wolfe Island and the surrounding areas.

Hotel Wolfe Island
1237 County Rd 96, Wolfe Island, ON K0H 2Y0
(613) 305-2626

PEGASUS Institute hosted a Creative Arts Event on Global Health, Equity, Promoting Indigenous Knowledge, and Environmental Sustainability from August 26-28, 2022, on Wolfe Island, Ontario. This three-day event brought together a diverse spectrum of community members, including Indigenous people, refugees, individuals from underserved and unheard communities, scholars, students, faculty, activists, advocates, and many others. The event was conducted through virtual platforms, video recordings, and a large public music event.

The purpose of this weekend event was to actively engage attendees in designing, collaborating on, and participating in various forms of art aimed at inspiring and producing social change. A particular focus was placed on engaging and promoting young Refugee and Indigenous Artists, providing a platform for cultural expression and a vehicle for the maintenance and transmission of culture and social activism, while promoting equity, human rights, health, and well-being.

Another stream of the event focused on engaging internationally trained Refugee Health Professionals, offering opportunities to document their experiences, knowledge, and wisdom. It also provided a platform for learning, networking, and sharing insights on integrating into the Canadian healthcare system and exploring alternative career paths in Global Health.

Refugee Health Professional Agenda

  • Refugee Health Professional Brainstorming Session (Education, Training, and Supports)
  • Shared Lived Experiences of Refugees
  • Expert Presentations (Study findings, questions)

Other Event Activities

  • Social justice songwriting workshops and performances
  • Movement workshop with improvised musical accompaniment
  • Sound engineering and recording workshop
  • Recording of composed social justice song
  • Advocacy & Arts – Moderated forum on social justice and the arts
  • Environmental Art Workshop
  • Sharing Circles & Musical Entertainment/Jam Sessions
  • Indigenous knowledge and History Sharing Circle
  • Creative Arts Workshops and Mini Concerts
  • Various recreational activities: Salsa dancing, juggling, Bird Watching, Cycling, Hiking, Water events, and more!

Participants

This creative retreat engaged a diverse spectrum of community members, including Indigenous peoples, refugees, those who were underserved and underheard, artists, scholars, students, faculty, activists, and advocates.

Refugee Health Professional Capacity Building Planning

Invited:

Jan Hatcher Roberts

WHO Collaborating Centre for Knowledge Translation, Technology Assessment for Health Equity, and School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa. IDRC, IOM, CEO of CSIH, consultant to WHO, PAHO, World Bank, UNFPA, CPA, and IDRC.

Kevin Pottie

Leader in refugee health and equity implementation. Professor and Clinician-Investigator, School of Epidemiology, Public Health and Preventive Medicine, University of Ottawa.

Saber Perdes

Newly Arrived Afghan Refugee and Public Health Physician.

Vanig Garabedian

Syrian Refugee. Gynecologist. Obstetrician.

Olive Wahoush

RN, RSCN, M.Sc., Ph.D. – Associate Director, Newcomer Health, Community and International Outreach. WHO Consultant.

Shpresa Aliu-Berisha

Kosovar Refugee. Family Physician. Assistant Clinical Professor, Family Medicine McMaster University.

Shafi Bhuyan

MBBS, MPH, MBA, PhD. Global Health Professional, Executive Director of Education/Health Programs, Humanitarian & Community Services Champion. Co-Creator of MScCH pilot program for internationally trained physicians at DLSPH.

Samson Oghenkham Akparoruea

Obstetrician/Gynecologist/Veterinarian. Founder of Refugee Health Worker Network. “Re-fugee Help Network” Centre for Environment and Science Education, Lagos State University, Ojo, Lagos. http://www.refugeehelpnetwork.org/

Jahan Zeb

Registered Social Worker – Psychotherapist. OCSWSSW, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada. Member OASW. MA in Social Work and a MA in Peace and Conflict Studies.

Nazia Zeb

Social Worker.

Nasrin Alostaz

RGN, RNT, BScN, MNEd Internationally Educated Registered Nurse. Graduate Student and Project Coordinator at McMaster University.

Event Gallery

August 26 – August 28, 2022

This three-day event on Wolfe Island, Ontario, brings together a diverse community to engage in art forms that promote social justice and cultural expression.

Performance By Artists

Event Goals

The purpose of this event was to actively engage attendees in designing, collaborating on, and participating in creating various forms of art with a focus on inspiring and producing action and social change. The themes were explored through various interactive musical and creative arts activities and workshops. A special connection to the surrounding physical and cultural environment of Wolfe Island was highlighted through environmental art activities (connecting with nature) as well as learning from the local peoples of the Island who shared valuable knowledge in health, peace, and environmental sustainability. There were 2 streams within the program that focused on:

1. Youth and the creative arts (mainly music)
2. Refugee health professionals.

The event was interactive and allowed participants and mentors to engage with each other, learn from one another, and network, while participating in fun and exciting creative arts and leisure activities between chosen sessions.

Acknowledgements

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our generous sponsors who made the Music and Creative Arts Retreat and Workshop for Social Justice possible. Their unwavering support and contributions were instrumental in bringing together a diverse group of participants and fostering an environment of creativity and collaboration.

Refugee Health Professional Capacity Building Stream Sponsor:

Global Health, Social Justice, Equity, and Environmental Sustainability Stream Sponsor: