Katie Beaver is a member and organizer with the Aron Indigenous Circle. Of Ojibwe and Irish descent, Katie grew up in Alderville First Nation and now lives in Peterborough. Katie works at the Nogojiwanong Friendship Centre in Peterborough (for the past eight years) and is currently a Healthy Living Program Coordinator. 

We asked her about her work planning events at the Aron and about her favourite Indigenous movies.

What is your role with the Aron Indigenous Circle and why would you recommend joining the Circle or attending an event?

I help organize events, coordinate social media and promotions, contribute to programming ideas, and support outreach and seasonal gatherings. 

Attending Indigenous programming is a great way to be involved in meaningful and fun events. The Circle’s gatherings have heart, culture, and community spirit. Whether it’s a film night or a celebration, there’s always something special happening.

What are some of your favourite events you’ve attended at the Aron?

I’ve loved organizing events like the Solstice Celebration and the Strawberry Solstice Gathering. For the Summer Solstice celebration, we had an Indigenous guest speaker, Kathy McLeod, who spoke beautifully about the heart berry — the strawberry — and its significance in Indigenous culture. We shared strawberry bannock shortcake for dessert and ended the evening with some fun rounds of bingo.

Seeing people come together to share food, music, and stories makes all the hard work worth it.

Do you remember the first movie you ever saw at the Aron? What’s your favourite Indigenous movie? 

Smoke Signals stands out. It was one of the first Indigenous films I saw at the Aron, and it really stuck with me.

Beans [Mohawk-Canadian Tracey Deer’s film chronicling the events of the Oka Crisis] is one of my favourites—it’s powerful and emotional, and it really stays with you.

What do you like about Campbellford? 

I live in Peterborough but travel to Campbellford for events. I love the Campbellford area—the people are kind, the land is beautiful, and there’s a real sense of community.