Northern Skies Retreats and Events
Join us for our next retreat.
Come together with a community of like-hearted people for necessary conversations surrounded by nature on the shores of Chub Lake.
Grounding Ourselves in Spirit Retreat FAQs
What are the options and prices for accommodations?The accommodation options are as follows. Each cabin includes all bedding, towels, shared bathroom with shower and shared kitchen, high speed Wifi, private dock and BBQ.
Private Premium Cottage for $700 + HST - one available
Private Vintage Cottage for $650 + HST - one available
Private Bedroom in Shared Premium Cottage for $600 + HST - five available
Private Bedroom in Shared Vintage Cottage for $500 + HST - six available
What does the price include?Price includes three nights of accommodation, three days of facilitated activities, group lunches & suppers (BYOB - bring your own breakfast), and access to all resort amenities (high speed Wifi, canoes, kayaks, paddle boards, campfires, sauna).
Do you have any discounted pricing options?Indigenous attendees are eligible for Land Back Pricing which is 15% off the base price before HST.
Individuals attending on behalf of a non profit or charity are eligible for Community Care pricing which is 20% off the base price before HST.
How many people will be attending the event?This retreat will welcome up to thirteen participants and will be hosted by four facilitators, for a total of 17 attendees.
Who are the hosts and facilitators and what experience do they bring?The hosts for this retreat are Gerard Sagassige, Robin Sutherland, Caralyn Quan and Miranda Bouchard.
Together they hold knowledge in traditional healing, meditation and guided movement, creative facilitation, community-engaged arts, Art of Hosting facilitation and Anti-Oppression. See each of their full bios below.
What kinds of activities will be included?We aim to create a spacious environment for self and group reflection that includes the following offerings:
Facilitated conversations in circle that surface individual and shared experiences of the times we are living through, allowing us to reflect on ways of caring for ourselves and each other
Anishinaabe practices welcoming for people of all Nations including teachings, sunrise ceremonies and sauna/sweat lodge
Guided meditation and gentle movement accessible for people of all abilities
Gentle, fun and beginner-friendly textile art-making activities to support mindfulness and presence
Time on the land and water (walks, paddling), weather permitting
Group meals with nourishing locally sourced ingredients
Space on your own to reflect, process and rest
Your Hosts
Gerard Sagassige
Shkaabaawis (Gerard Sagassige) is from Curve Lake First Nation, with family connections to Serpent River, and brings over 20 years of experience in assisting with healing work. As a Midewiwin Lodge Member, Gerard has learned from many respected teachers throughout his travels. Gerard is the spiritual mentor and guide of Waasinode Shkikii Gamik and brings deep traditional knowledge, ceremony, teachings and humour into our retreats.
Anishinaabe Traditional Healer
Caralyn Quan
Caralyn brings a calming presence to any gathering. She is a gifted facilitator, community worker and organizer and yoga and meditation teacher who has worked in the nonprofit and mental health sector for over 10 years. She currently works in provincial mental health advocacy and has experience as a frontline worker in youth programs in Toronto. She has worked on provincial youth leadership and community building initiatives with Robin, Gerard, and other inspiring leaders and is honoured to be a Helper to Gerard.
Meditation and Movement
Creative FacilitationMiranda Bouchard
Miranda brings a gentle, welcoming and inclusive way of engaging in creative expression and community building for people of all abilities and artistic experience, from beginners to professionals. She is the Artistic Director of Thinking Rock Community Arts and an artist, curator & arts manager with 16+ years’ experience in the non-profit arts and culture sector. Her Algoma roots and residence inform her focus on process- and craft-based practices, intergenerational sharing, and projects unfolding in rural places where such practices are prevalent. She’s drawn to stories, traditions and modes of making that survive and retain their salience, despite the passage of time.
Host and FacilitatorRobin Sutherland
Robin is the fourth generation owner of Northern Skies Resort, and will be ensuring retreat participants feel welcomed and comfortable during their stay. Robin is also trained in community-engaged arts practice, Art of Hosting facilitation, Anti-Oppression and Indigenous Cultural Competency. She is deeply interested in curating spaces and experiences that bring together artistic practice, wellness, Indigenous wisdom and traditions, and land-based learning to enable heart-led conversations and community building to unfold. She is honoured to have worked alongside Gerard, Caralyn and Miranda in this work for over a decade, and to now bring this work to Waasinode Shkiiki Gamik retreats.
Looking to connect with like hearted people?
Join a retreat or event at Northern Skies.Northern Skies hosts our own regular retreats that welcome participants into spaces where creativity, learning, and wellness come together in a serene lakeside setting.
Led by experienced instructors, facilitators, artists, and knowledge holders, each retreat encourages engagement at your own pace, whether in yoga, arts workshops, healing conversations, outdoor activities or Indigenous-led activities.
Our well loved Waasinode Shkekigemek retreats are led by local Anishinaabe healer Gerard Sagassige along with experienced helpers. These gatherings use traditional knowledge, ceremony, creative facilitation, time on the land and water, good food and big belly laughs to support people on their healing journeys.
We also hold occasional events at our Gathering Place that are open to the public and that
celebrate and showcase the resort offerings as well as local artists, makers, guides, musicians, and food.Reach out below if you’d like to be informed about upcoming retreats and events.
Past Retreats
