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“We’re here to celebrate the spirit of resilience and resistance, we are recognizing the ongoing struggle of remembrance and reconciliation and justice,” said Mayor Olivia Chow at the 7th annual Indigenous Legacy Gathering
Toronto Council Fire Native Cultural Centre hosted the gathering, which ran from Sept 27 – 30 in Nathan Phillips square which included a celebration of the opening of the Spirit Garden, an Indigenous cultural site in the west-end of Nathan Phillips Square. This will serve as Toronto’s Residential School Monument as per the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada Call to Action 82.
“It’s great for the city to recognize and put this kind of structure up and commitment to these sorts of things that happened in the past,” said Erik Wakegijig, who works in the social media sector of Toronto Council Fire Native Cultural Centre.
“The community is coming together, but it’s very multicultural. There’s not just Indigenous people, but if you look around, you see all different races that are here, which I find most meaningful, because then that is showing that we have allies out there,” said Chantell Barker, the executive director of Aboriginal Legal Services Inc., explaining that the Indigenous Legacy Gathering is open to the public, and a place where Indigenous culture is shared and taught through workshops, dance and music performances, presentations, and a vendor marketplace.
“Even just from last year, compared to this year, there’s been so many more CBC, CNN, CTV … cameras on the event,” said Wakegijig.
Wakegijig pointed out the disconnect between the urban Indigenous population and the way they are seen at events like these – as just people in the community.
The City of Toronto partnered with the Council Fire Native Cultural Centre to honour the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation in hosting the Indigenous Legacy Gathering.
“What the city can do is […] provide those spaces that we’re able to gather, not only for the legacy event, but year round, where we’re able to access ceremonies,” said Barker, “I think that if the city was able to provide green space where we’re able to regularly access our ceremonies, I think that would benefit the indigenous population,” she said.
Cat lover. Enjoys dancing. Reporter for On The Record News.
