Indigenous woman in traditional dress dances at a Pow-Wow at the Yonge-Dundas Square on June 27. (Matthew Frank)
Matthew Frank
Artists, performers and traditionally dressed dancers started off the last day of the ninth annual Aboriginal History Month Celebration in downtown Toronto on Wednesday.
Indigenous awareness month is celebrated in June and this year’s event was hosted this year in part by the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund, which promotes reconciliation through education and social action.
Bob Goulais, a governor of Humber College, said it’s important to have Indigenous awareness month during an era of reconciliation because it helps promote recognition of Indigenous peoples to average Canadians.
“It’s important for people to know more about our people, understand our aspirations, our culture,” Goulais said. “It can help us bridge that understanding and share our culture, and ultimately understand one another.”
The expected artists performing in Toronto include Cree and Dene pop artist Iské, Canadian electronic group A Tribe Called Red, and the Keys N’ Krates.
The venue also featured an authentic Indigenous artisan market, kids art’s and crafts tent, local Indigenous agencies showcasing their crafts and skills and the Resilience Digital Art Gallery.
More to come.