People across Canada honour and celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day

People across Canada are celebrating National Indigenous Peoples Day. It’s a day to honour and learn about the contributions of Indigenous peoples and move towards reconciliation.
Many events are being held across the country to celebrate the day. One of the events happening in our area is at Spencer Smith Park led by the Urban Indigenous Community with support from the City of Burlington.
Many Indigenous groups and communities have been celebrating their culture and heritage on June 21 for generations. The significance of this time of year is the summer solstice.
Events like this are an opportunity to learn more about First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples and their unique cultures.
There were plenty of other events in our area including one in Ohsweken which they call today Solidarity Day.
The Six Nations community hall was filled with celebration today. There were rides, vendors, and sweet treats.
Six Nations of the Grand River Councilor Greg Frazer says many people in Six Nations call today Solidarity Day.
“We’re trying to bring all our nations together, all our First Nations people and be collective, and have one voice, speaking as one. As you know we have a lot of issues, so trying to bring everyone together,” Frazer said.
The day was created in 1982 and it was called National Aboriginal Solidarity Day. In 2017, the federal government renamed the day to National Indigenous Peoples Day.
Georgia Ekencrantz was selling jewelry at the event today. She is a 60s scoop survivor and says keeping her culture alive is important.
“This is the way that I can connect back to my roots. It’s important to make awareness that we are still here,” Ekencrantz said.
At Hamilton City Hall an event was hosted by the city’s Indigenous relations team and featured singing, drumming and dancing.
In Oakville this morning members of Grandmother’s Voice, a group that aims to reconnect people with their Indigenous heritage gathered at The Meeting House.
Knowledge Keeper Gail Whitlow said, “It’s just sharing from an Indigenous perspective, some teachings and some knowledge that will help empower others.”
Teachings they hope will benefit future generations.
“We’ve got to a place of so much disrespect for the land, we need to get back to remembering who takes care of us. That’s the land the air and the water,” Knowledge Keeper Renee Thomas-Hill said.

[@jamesbilodeau8188]

Reconciliation. An expensive word. It has cost taxpayers billions. And still they rant and demand more. What contributions have these people made to Canada? Where are their cities and infrastructure? Roads, airport, etc etc. Sewage handling?? Water? There was nothing. The 'bad people' came and built it all. Sorry they pushed you out of the way. but are we not all victims of progress in one way or another?? I cannot reconcile with a people who have blamed me for their troubles. Who have threatened and robbed me. Who have used violence against me and when I responded with violence to protect myself, I was blamed. I paid the price. This is MY COUNTRY as well. I am more than willing to share it and have a peace and prosper. There is more than enough for all. I will not relinquish a yard to a people who would not give me an inch.