The Wisdom Weekend held at Manitou Beach on May 3rd and 4th connected the area and its importance to indigenous ways of knowing and a celebration of life. The event is part of the 100th anniversary celebration for Manitou Beach and is a collaboration between the Touchwood Agency Tribal Council and the Village of Manitou Beach.

The Friday event was geared primarily toward school groups with Watrous, Kawacatoose, and Muskowekan Schools in attendance. The full-day session had students meeting seven different presenters with diverse topics including the history of the region and its importance to indigenous people.

Saturday opened the event to the public with a full day of presentations repeating throughout the day so that attendees could have the fullest experience possible. Sarah McKen, spokesperson for the Centennial Committee is proud of the work that the collaboration has done in setting up the event. McKen explains, "Little Manitou Lake is so important to a lot of different cultures. It's been important to indigenous peoples long before settlement. It's known as healing waters and so it's been a gathering place for people from across North America, and since settlement, we've continued that tradition of it being a sacred place that people gather to enjoy the medicinal waters."

The historical review looks at the area through a variety of lenses, including from the perspective of the many Jewish visitors from Winnipeg and further afield who came to experience the restorative properties of the waters. McKen also acknowledges an original resident from Manitou Beach who has witnessed the significant change that's transpired over the years. 

These perspectives would be co-mingled with aboriginal teachings on traditional plant medicines, traditional crafts, and child rearing and parenting practices. The culmination of the day was a traditional round dance led by the Dancing Horse Singers. McKen reflects on the round dance, "The Round Dance is a form of circle dance that happens in many different cultures. It's about being in a community. As a circle, there is no beginning and no one is more important than another. That round dance is really representational of our work to be good neighbours and to work well together."

The Saturday concluded with an archaeological trip to a local site along with interpretation by some of the elders. A local area farmer has invited participants to go on site to view artifacts such as teepee rings.

The gathering brought together people of different cultures to discover a common history and heritage in and around the land of healing waters. Events celebrating the centennial of the establishment of the Manitou Beach community continue throughout the year.