National Indigenous Peoples Day celebrated in Montreal

“Learn the real history,” said Sedalia Kawenno:ta’s, a spiritual leader, at the National Indigenous Peoples Day celebrations in Montreal, a day to recognize the First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities in Canada. Gareth Madoc-Jones reports.

It’s National Indigenous Peoples’ Day, and at Montreal’s Old Port, a civic ceremony took place involving a traditional tobacco ceremony, drumming and dances. 

“Initially, it was really meant to be a day of solidarity between Indigenous peoples, while obviously with the issue of reconciliation and wanting to bridge gaps, the day has taken, has covered so much in the last 20 years,” said Ghislain Picard, the former Regional Chief of the Assembly of First Nations Quebec-Labrador (AFNQL).

Ghislain Picard, the former Regional Chief of the Assembly of First Nations Quebec-Labrador (AFNQL). (Gareth Madoc-Jones, CityNews)

André Dudemaine, the event co-organizer, said, “I think we were the first in 1995 to restart, I should say, the custom of having 21st of June ceremony on the island of Montreal.”

Pedro Diaz, a drummer at the event added, “Drumming is very significant actually for Native communities, because it’s like it’s a power of healing and it’s something that normally all the communities share.”

National Indigenous Peoples’ Day in Montreal. (Gareth Madoc-Jones, CityNews)

The event also included an Elder lighting what is referred to as the day’s fire that represents an earthly echo of the sun shining at its zenith on the longest day of the year. 

“The fire is lighting that first light of life, I guess, and we’ll be putting the tobacco in the fire and each person will come and give their tobacco and that’s all their offerings for what they want for the rest of the season,” said Sedalia Kawenno:ta’s, a spiritual leader.

“June 21st is now an Aboriginal day, as they call it, but for us it’s summer solstice.” 

National Indigenous Peoples’ Day, which takes place on the summer solstice, is a day to recognize the contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities in Canada and to celebrate their cultures. 

“Just enjoy this national day, it is important actually for all Native people to be together and try to work together with everybody actually as well, in order to have a better society, you know, and for their reconciliation,” said Diaz.

Ian Lafrenière, Quebec’s minister responsible for relations with First Nations and Inuit, said, “This is a huge day to take a moment to consider what has been done in the past, history, what can we do today and what we’re hoping for the future as well.”

Kawenno:ta’s added, “Go and learn the real history, go and learn the real history of Canada, talk to the Indigenous people, when you see things going on like today, go and talk to the people, talk to the people who are involved and ask them about the real history.”

Top Stories

Top Stories

Most Watched Today