479. June 21 National Aboriginal Day Events – 2015

Ruth writes:  This year we have several important free Aboriginal Day events to which all of us are invited.

On June 18-20 is the Indigenous Arts Festival at Fort York.  For detailed information with performance schedule, see: http://www1.toronto.ca/wps/portal/contentonly?vgnextoid=8d6b07c0a5f16410VgnVCM10000071d60f89RCRD.

On June 21 is the 14th Annual Na-Me-Res Traditional Outdoor Pow Wow this year at Fort York. This includes a  sunrise service, grand entry at 12 noon, sacred procession, feast, dance competition, concert, craft vendors, feast, and funk-rock. Money raised is for a native men’s residence. For details of this event, see: http://www1.toronto.ca/wps/portal/contentonly?vgnextoid=1eb2f7b3b3c7d410VgnVCM10000071d60f89RCRD&vgnextchannel=8d6b07c0a5f16410VgnVCM10000071d60f89RCRD.

On June 24 is the Aboriginal History Month Celebration organized by the Native Canadian Centre at Yonge-Dundas Square. Its website is at: http://www.ncct.on.ca/events.php. From it we quote: “This year we have an exciting line-up of entertainers, including Digging Roots headlining! As well as, all day Kid’s Arts & Crafts Tent, craft vendors exhibiting and selling their wares and Aboriginal agencies showcasing what they are doing in the community.
12:00pm – MC Bob Goulais
12:30pm – Powwow Dance Performance: a chance for all dancers to come up and show their moves!
1:15pm – Powwow Bootcamp: the audience will learn skills in Indigenous dance forms of Powwow and Onkehon: we (Iroquois) social dances.
2:30 – ENAGB Youth Talent Show
3:25 – First Nations Communities Read Award Presentation
3:35 – First Nations School Dance Performance
3:45 – Fashion Show by NativeTalent.net
5:00 – Blackstone
6:00 – Métis Fiddler Quartet
7:00 – Digging Roots.”

Our Public Libraries have free programs also where you can meet First Nations people, listen to talks or stories, and ask questions. See: http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/programs-and-classes/featured/aboriginal-celebration.jsp.

For a panel with CBC’s Michael Enright on the Murdered and Missing Women, see June 21, 4pm at the Reference Library.

If you’ve never experienced a pow-wow, do attend the one on June 21.  If you want to experience traditional and contemporary music, dance, theatre, storytelling, spoken word, visual arts, crafts, and food created by indigenous artists, go to the Arts Festival.

Don’t forget the weekly Big Drum Social at the Native Canadian Centre, 16 Spadina Rd. Thursdays, 6:30-8:45pm. For more information, contact Cheryle at 416-964-9087 X 308 or Cheryle.Jacobs@NCCT.on.ca. For our Blog about this event, see: https://www.torontomulticulturalcalendar.com/2012/05/03/260-big-drum-social-at-the-native-canadian-centre.

All of these are opportunities to meet, chat with, or support some of our First Nations residents. For taking close-up pictures at these events, please ask permission (which is usually given).

There are a lot more free or nearly-free festivals and events with many of our other diverse cultures  during the summer in multicultural Toronto.  To find more, see: https://www.torontomulticulturalcalendar.com/2015/05/01/461-how-to-find-free-or-nearly-free-multicultural-events-in-toronto-2015.  Please tell us about your adventures.

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