GUELPH – On June 21, Indigenous Peoples Day and the summer solstice, people gathered at Riverside Park in Guelph to celebrate First Nations, Inuit and Métis culture.
The event began with opening prayers from Elders including Bruce Weaver, who is Turtle Clan from the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte, and Ame Papatsie, who is Inuk.
Papatsie spoke about how the solstice, the longest day of the year, represents an equilibrium of mind, soul and body.
Event organizer Jennifer Parkinson is Red River Métis from Winnipeg, Manitoba.
She said it felt heartwarming to see how the celebration brought First Nations, Inuit, Métis, and non-Indigenous people together.
The First Nations portion of the event featured pow wow style dancing, singing and drumming including a men’s traditional dance, women’s shawl dance and jingle dances, chicken dances, and intertribal dances where attendees were encouraged to join in.
Papatsie and Aalbi shared Inuit drumming, led attendees in a singing workshop, and throat sang together.
Papatsie said throat singing, traditionally done by women, is like a game, where one singer imitates the other and the one who laughs first loses.
During the Métis portion of the event, Alicia Hamilton taught a group of attendees a range of jigs, including the rabbit-chase dance.
There were also a range of vendors with Indigenous wares, community groups with information about their services, and a food truck that’s menu included Indian Tacos, walking tacos, and fry bread.
Emcee John Somosi shared cultural stories throughout the event, and taught participants how to sing the Nibi Water Song and a farewell travelling song.
Somosi spoke with the Advertiser about how valuable it is when attendees join in with the songs and dances.
