How to honour National Indigenous Peoples Day in Toronto
A Sunrise Ceremony takes place at 5:30 a.m. on Wed., June 21.
Held every year on June 21, National Indigenous Peoples Day is an opportunity for everyone to celebrate the cultural richness and contributions of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples.
Launched in 1996 as National Aboriginal Day, it’s recognized with activities organized in communities across Canada.
Toronto has proclaimed the day every year since 1998. Read on for how the City is celebrating in 2023.
How to honour National Indigenous Peoples Day in Toronto
On Wed., June 21, the City of Toronto will hold the annual Sunrise Ceremony to mark National Indigenous Peoples Day.
The Sunrise Ceremony begins at 5:30 a.m. in Nathan Phillips Square, the permanent site of five Indigenous flags installed in 2017.
Starting June 21, these 5 Indigenous flags will have a permanent place on Nathan Phillips Square for the first time https://t.co/Al40wMdNMw pic.twitter.com/RbslR2KZPZ
— City of Toronto (@cityoftoronto) June 19, 2017
According to the City website, the Sunrise Ceremony is “held around a Sacred Fire and consists of many ceremonial elements that hold cultural significance for Indigenous Peoples, such as strawberries, water and the use of sage for cleansing.”
After the ceremony, there will be a reading of the National Indigenous Peoples Day Proclamation.
“The City welcomes everyone to attend this sacred ceremony, coming together with Indigenous partners to share in offering prayers and in giving thanks for all of creation and Mino Baamodziwin (The Good Life),” reads a City press release from early June.
To learn more about Sunrise Ceremonies, click here.
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