Gathering Of The Good Minds Runs Into Financial Roadblocks by Cindy Mills for London This Week

since May 6, 2004

Gathering Of The Good Minds Runs Into Financial Roadblocks

by: Cindy Mills
Special to London This Week - August 31, 2005

Dan Smoke - Asayenes and Mary Lou Smoke - Asayenes Kwe are looking for funds to gather good minds.

The couple is in the midst of planning the third Gathering of the Good Minds Festival, but to date, have received little funding for the event.

"This year's Gathering of the Good Minds was to have provided an important component to the l50th anniversary by showing who the original people of the Forest City were, and the important role played, and still do, within the area," said Smoke - Asayenes, referring to the Iroquois and Algonquin Nations, which called this area home before the European settlers arrived.

In past years, the festival has received funding through grants by various organizations, plus "we have had high numbers reflecting community interest and community participation," said Smoke-Asayenes.

However, to date this year, the festival has been turned down for funding by a number of government and grant agencies.

"The London Community Foundation has a number of funding principles to determine grants and the Gathering of the Good Minds met them. However, in 2005 the total amount requested by organizations in the particular grant cycle was three times greater than the funds available for granting," explains Catherine Joyes, manager of grants and donor services for the organization.

The LCF's response was similar to those received from the Trillium Foundation, Ontario Arts Council, and the London Arts Council.

The three-day festival is for everyone in the region and the purpose is for people to benefit from the art, culture and wisdom of the First Peoples, explains Smoke-Asayenes.

The Festival will take place at the Museum London Sept. 23-25. Museum London, the City of London, Covent Garden Market and the London Museum of Archaeology have partnered to help the organization host a scaled-down version of the festival.

"We don't feel the event is in jeopardy because our appeal will prompt some corporate entity and/or community patrons to come forward and we will be very appreciative," said Smoke-Asayenes about where the money will come from to fund the festival.

Smoke-Asayenes and Smoke-Asayenes Kwe host the First Nations radio newsmagazine "Smoke Signals" produced at CHRW 94.9 FM Radio Western, at the University of Western Ontario.