We recognize June 21st as National Indigenous Peoples Day. It is a day to celebrate and honour Indigenous heritage, diversity, and cultures, as well as the outstanding achievements of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples throughout Canada. Since time immemorial, June 21st, or the Summer Solstice, has been celebrated and honoured in Indigenous communities as the longest day of the year. In 1996, while working with Indigenous communities, the Government of Canada officially recognized June 21st as National Indigenous Peoples Day.
On June 21st, 2022, DWF proudly partnered with Scotiabank and Maple Leaf Sports Entertainment (MLSE) for a special one-day event to celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day.
Over 1,000 students gathered at Scotiabank Arena in downtown Toronto, and thousands more joined virtually, to hear from Indigenous Elders, performers, speakers and artists, who showcased their work, stories, and knowledge. Students had the honour of hearing from the Wenjack and Downie families about how we can continue to move reconciliation forward in our lives and communities.
After the concert, students visited a series of learning stations around the concourse of the arena and participated in meaningful discussions on Indigenous knowledge, language, and culture.
– Pearl (Wenjack) Achneepineskum
94 Calls to Action and YOU
At this station, led by DWF’s Youth Ambassador program team, students engaged with one of the 94 calls to action and related it to their own experiences and goals. Students traced out their footprint and wrote their call to action on it, which was then posted around the arena to show each step taken on the path toward reconciliation.
Coding a Message of ReconciliACTION using Secret Path
Lynx Coding and the Renfrew County District School Board partnered with DWF to empower students to learn about residential schools and take action. At this station, students used text-based coding to create deeply moving animations and powerful messages of reconciliACTION with the haunting music of Gord Downie.
Cree Language Learning Station
Nancy Hollman from DWF’s ReconciliACTION team led students in a Cree-focused language session, where they learned how to count to 10 in Cree and identify a variety of animals, including Muskwa (Bear), Kihew (Eagle), and Paskwa Moostos (Buffalo).
Toronto Maple Leafs Dressing Room Tour
The MLSE team took students on a rare tour through the Toronto Maple Leafs dressing room, where they learned about the history of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Indigenous influence on hockey today.
Learning from the Wenjacks
Students participated in a private knowledge circle with Wenjack family members. Pearl, Daisy, Evelyn, Harriet, and Kyra shared their truths and answered questions on the significance of National Indigenous Peoples Day.
Letters for the Wenjacks
After listening to Pearl and the Wenjack family during June 21st’s National Indigenous Peoples Day event, students reflected on what they learned and wrote a letter to the family.
Hoop Dance Teachings
Singer and grass and hoop dancer, Theland Kicknosway, shared teachings about the hoop dance, and after his demonstration, taught students some special moves!
Indigenous Inventions
Education from DWF’s Legacy Schools program came to play in this special version of BINGO we called TANSI. Through this activity, students learned just how many everyday inventions we use exist because of brilliant Indigenous minds!
Iroquois Lacrosse
Iroquois Lacrosse shared Lacrosse teachings from every perspective (player, builders, and ambassadors) and involved students with activities using deerskin balls and sponge balls along with wooden sticks.
Meet the TML Alumni of Legends Row
The MLSE team led students out to Legends Row to learn more about George Armstrong and Borje Salming, two Indigenous players recognized among the 14 greatest Toronto Maple Leafs of all time.
Moccasin Identifier Project
The Moccasin Identifier Project taught students about treaties and Indigenous relationships to land through this interactive activity, where afterwards they were able to make special moccasin prints.
Rhythm and Rhyme for the Time
DWF’s Artist Ambassador, Zoey Roy, taught students about the importance of collective storytelling through this fun activity, where students wrote their own rap verses and performed them with original beats by Omar Obeatz Ballantyne.
Financial Fitness and Literacy
Scotiabank’s Indigenous Financial Services team taught students the basics of financial literacy through a fun game of JEOPARDY!
Secret Path Week ReconciliACTION Planning
Secret Path Week is an annual national movement that commemorates the legacies of Gord Downie and Chanie Wenjack. It calls on all people in Canada to “Do Something” by creating a reconciliACTION that furthers the conversation about the history of residential schools.
At this station, participants learned about different examples of reconciliACTIONs and began planning their own ideas for Secret Path Week 2022.
Walk for Wenjack – How we started and where we’re going
Inspired by the “Secret Path” story and Gord Downie’s humility, sincerity, and determination to tell the story of all youths from the residential school era, volunteers from around the country organize an annual experience, called Walk For Wenjack, to honour Chanie Wenjack and the thousands like him who never made it home. At this station, Rob Ferreira shared past Walk for Wenjack experiences and shared exciting details about the in-person event planned for October 18th, 2022, at McMichael Art Gallery.
Bannock Bites
Dashmaawaan Bemaadzinjin (They Feed the People) came about as a community-based Indigenous food sovereignty support effort to provide healthy, whole, fresh, and traditional Indigenous foods to local Elders and Indigenous folks that are houseless and living in the encampments in Toronto.
This station taught students about the history of Indigenous foods and their relationship to colonization.
A reconciliACTION is a meaningful action that moves reconciliation forward. It acts as the catalyst for important conversations and meaningful change, recognizing that change starts with every one of us and each person can make an impact. Visit our page to learn how you can take reconciliACTION today!
Thank you to our generous partners MLSE and Scotiabank for making DWF’s National Indigenous Peoples Day Celebration possible and for their commitment to moving reconciliation forward.
Ways to celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day in-person this year, CBC News, June 20, 2022
1,000 students learn about Indigenous cultures as Scotiabank Arena turns into giant classroom, CBC News, June 21, 2022
Inspired by Chanie’s story and Gord’s call to build a better Canada, the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund aims to build cultural understanding and create a path toward reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. Our goal is to improve the lives of Indigenous people by building awareness, education, and connections between all peoples in Canada.
Phone: 1-844-944-4545
E-mail: staff@downiewenjack.ca
Address:
PO BOX 749
OHSWEKEN, ON
N0A1M0
