June 21st marked the 30th annual National Indigenous Peoples Day in Canada, a day that takes place on the summer solstice to honour Indigenous heritage and history. In Ottawa, a ceremony honouring Indigenous veterans was held at the National Aboriginal Veterans Monument. “Historically, the solstice served as the beginning of the social and travel season,” said Aurel Dubé, an Indigenous veteran. “It’s a time to meet other nations, share stories, feast and perform traditional dances.” Canada’s new Governor General Louise Arbour attended the ceremony for the first time since being installed in her role. “As we stand before the National Aboriginal Veterans monument, I encourage all Canadians to reflect on the values that it represents: honour, duty, and harmony with the environment,” Arbour said. The monument has stood at the same location in Confederation Park for 25 years, offering a spot for reflection. “This monument was created to honour all of the Aboriginal people that served during wars,” said Dubé. Dubé says National Indigenous Peoples Day is a sacred time of spiritual renewal for First Nations people. It’s a chance to connect to the land and give gratitude to the sun. Also in Ottawa, the Summer Solstice Indigenous Festival was held at Wesley Clover Parks. “We have over 75 vendors with arts and crafts as well as food,” said Trina Simard, the founder of Indigenous Experiences, which runs the festival. “We have a family fun zone, some interactive hands-on workshops with lots happening, and our Ojibwe spirit horses.” Drummers and dancers were competing from across North America. Three pavilions were set-up to teach about the 150 years of the Indian Act. “We wanted this to be a really interactive exhibition where people can take part in games and experiences that make the Indian Act feel immediate to them,” said Amy Ede, the programming director for the exhibition. The workshops offered a chance for attendees to learn and reflect. “Canadians and non-Canadians just really don’t know about First Nations so having celebrations like this is really important to learn and grow and collaborate together so that we can hopefully have a better future for everyone,” said Amanda Lynne Smith, who was at the festival with her family.
