In June 2024, the Chiefs of Ontario and Six Nations of the Grand River hosted the Annual Chiefs Assembly (ACA) and Regional Chief Election at the Six Nations Sports and Cultural Memorial Centre in Ohsweken, Ontario. This significant event brought together leaders from more than 130 First Nations across Ontario, centered around the theme “Coming Together: Advocating for First Nations Sovereignty.” The three-day assembly featured elections for the Office of the Ontario Regional Chief, with Grand Chief Abram Benedict emerging as the new Regional Chief.
Pynx Pro was honoured to provide comprehensive audio-visual support for this hybrid event, which included both in-person and live-streamed components. The goal was to ensure seamless communication and captivating presentations, while also managing the challenge of stopping the live stream for sensitive discussions.
The ACA is a crucial gathering for First Nations leaders to strategize, celebrate, and elect new leadership. The assembly included discussions on a wide range of issues affecting First Nations communities, such as health, rights assertions, Child and Family Services, land rights, economic development, and negotiations with federal and provincial governments. This year, special attention was given to addressing drug addiction, crime, boil water advisories, and ways to engage youth.
One of the standout features of our support for the ACA was the use of OBS Studio, a streaming application. OBS Studio allowed us to create custom graphics and scenes, enhancing the visual appeal and professionalism of the presentations. Pynx was also able to connect remote guest speakers via the Zoom platform.
To ensure consistency and branding, we helped in creating a template with the Chiefs of Ontario branding. This template was used to design various scenes within OBS, allowing us to display PowerPoint presentations and live camera feeds in a cohesive manner. By using two video switchers, we were able to drive the PowerPoint presentations into a larger window, while placing the live camera feeds in a smaller window. This picture-in-picture format made the presentations more engaging and easier to follow for both in-person attendees and online viewers.
With OBS, we were able to make several scenes displaying different configurations of the presentation and live feeds.
This flexibility allowed us to switch between scenes smoothly, maintaining a dynamic and visually appealing presentation throughout the event. The integration of branding elements in the scenes ensured that the ACA’s visual identity was consistently represented.
Hosting a hybrid event presents unique challenges, particularly when it comes to managing the live stream and in-person components simultaneously. At the ACA, we had to address the challenge of displaying content on four screens in the arena while also managing the live stream for online viewers.
One of the significant challenges was displaying content intended for the in-person audience on the arena screens without broadcasting it live. This required careful coordination and planning to ensure that sensitive discussions and presentations were only visible to the intended audience. By using OBS and multiple video switchers, we could control what was shown on the live stream and the arena screens separately. Our production team had to carefully co-ordinate with each other and event organizers.
Another challenge was managing the in-camera sessions, where the live stream had to be stopped for more sensitive discussions. These sessions were crucial for addressing confidential topics that could not be shared publicly. To manage this, we implemented a system to quickly and efficiently switch off the live stream while ensuring that in-person attendees could continue their discussions uninterrupted. This involved coordinating with the event organizers to schedule these sessions and prepare the technical team for seamless transitions.
The technical setup for the ACA was extensive and required precise planning and execution. Here’s an overview of the equipment and setup used:
The Annual Chiefs Assembly and Regional Chief Election was a significant event that required careful planning, advanced technology, and seamless execution. Pynx Pro was proud to support this event, providing comprehensive audio-visual solutions that enhanced the experience for both in-person and online attendees. By leveraging OBS Studio and other advanced AV equipment, we were able to create captivating presentations and manage the challenges of a hybrid event effectively.
Our ability to adapt to the unique needs of the ACA and provide high-quality AV solutions underscores our commitment to excellence and our expertise in managing complex events. We look forward to continuing to support important events like the ACA, helping to bridge gaps and build connections through innovative AV solutions.
To learn more about the Chiefs of Ontario, visit their website.
Watch the Assembly & Election on YouTube.
Learn more about the election process for the Ontario Regional Chief.
If you’re planning an event and need professional AV support, contact Pynx Pro to learn how we can help make your event a success.
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Land Acknowledgement
We acknowledge that Pynx Productions Head Office is situated on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg and Haudenosaunee Peoples. We also acknowledge that the events in which Pynx Productions produces take place on this traditional territory. It is the settlers of this traditional territory whose cultural roots we celebrate. We also recognize and respect the cultural diversity that First Nations, Métis, and Inuit people bring to our community and recognize their past and present contributions to this land.
We encourage our community to continue their reconciliation journey along with us by visiting the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR). To find out more information about the land that you’re on, visit Native-Land and Whose Land.
