‘Gather round!' Toronto high schoolers get hands-on lesson in the lost history of Afro-Ojibwe farming
They don't look the part, but they're resurrecting an old agricultural practice, one developed in southwestern Ontario by the descendants of escaped Black slaves and Indigenous people, and they're doing it at the corner of Lawrence Avenue East and The Donway.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Winnipeg Free Press
16 minutes ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Swedish furniture store an unlikely place to inspire Indigenous pride
Opinion Saturday marks Canada's 29th National Indigenous Peoples Day. It happens every year, on June 21, the summer solstice, the day with the longest sunlight in the northern hemisphere. National Indigenous Peoples Day was proclaimed by the federal government in 1996 and was intended to honour the cultural significance of this time of the year while celebrating the contributions of Indigenous peoples to Canada. The day has been expanded to become National Indigenous Peoples Month because, frankly, it's impossible to encapsulate Indigenous history, culture, and contributions to Canada into a single anything. NIIGAAN SINCLAIR / FREE PRESS IKEA's Indigenous space features a teepee designed by artist Micaela Gilbert of Sagkeeng First Nation. The term Indigenous, for example, includes First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples. 'Nuff said. The day is also expanding into other areas. I've written before about all of the events happening in places we now know regularly stage Indigenous events — so much so it would be weird if they did not. I'm talking about universities and schools, sporting events, and public spaces like The Forks. This year, though, I never thought I would add a Swedish-based department store to the list. If you walk through the popular furniture store IKEA on Saturday, you will see two new installations: an Indigenous ceremonial space and an Indigenous living room. You read that right. There is a teepee in the middle of hide-a-beds and make-it-yourself furniture. Curated by artist Lesley Beardy, the Winnipeg IKEA store's new Indigenous adviser and curator, the two rooms signal a remarkable – and colourful – interruption in the everyday experience of looking for meatballs, a lamp, or bookcase. NIIGAAN SINCLAIR / FREE PRESS IKEA's new installation showcases an Indigenous living room. I was invited for a sneak preview earlier in the week. The installation is one part art, one part traditional, and all parts IKEA. In the first room, customers are welcomed by signage, in Ojibwa, Cree, and English, that explains traditional ceremonies. It features archival and modern photographs of Indigenous homes and families. There are traditional medicines of sage, sweet grass, tobacco, and cedar and a red dress honouring missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirit peoples. Then there's the teepee. Designed by artist Micaela Gilbert of Sagkeeng First Nation, the colourful hide is covered in birch bark and flower designs, while each of the 15 poles that hold it up is marked with a word that represents a teaching. It makes you almost forget you are sitting on pillows you can buy for a few dollars at the cash register downstairs. Then there's the second room — and most remarkable part — of the installation: the Indigenous living room. NIIGAAN SINCLAIR / FREE PRESS The beadwork corner. Here is not only one of the most positive and beautiful displays of an Indigenous family in Manitoba through photos, but evidence of all the things that make a family; games, space for visiting, and art. There is a beadwork corner, a glass case where traditional medicine is kept, photographs of babies, a graduating student and a #1 Koko (grandmother) award. Of course, the two IKEA Indigenous spaces are meant to encourage commercialism, capitalism, and purchasing furniture, storage units, and blankets – but I can say without a doubt that I never thought I would see such a thing in the place I buy my bedspreads. It's a sign, perhaps most of all, of a big change happening in this place. Obviously, a department store needs to make money. Clearly though, the management of this one views Indigenous peoples as a market worth investing in. This makes sense. There are more Indigenous professionals than ever before and, with that, more than ever that make up the 'middle class' — and can afford such items. But this isn't the change I'm speaking about. The vast majority of customers who can afford IKEA furniture are the 78 per cent of Canadians who make up the middle class, which in Manitoba means making an approximate income of between $50,000 to $100,000. These are the Canadians who, because they work alongside, live beside, or are married to an Indigenous person, won't be shocked when they push their cart and suddenly see a teepee as a part of their shopping experience. In fact, the store manager is betting they will be so comfortable after seeing it that, not only will they stop and look and learn, but they will be so comfortable about the experience that they will want to take a piece of it home. Did I mention the installation is permanent? I am fully aware that this is starting to sound like a paid advertisement. Perhaps this is part of the motivation to do such a display, too; to get people like myself to talk about it. But how can one not? Wednesdays Sent weekly from the heart of Turtle Island, an exploration of Indigenous voices, perspectives and experiences. I took my teenage daughter, and as we walked through the exhibit, I kept commenting about how surprised I was with what I was seeing. NIIGAAN SINCLAIR / FREE PRESS Artist Lesley Beardy is the Winnipeg IKEA store's new Indigenous adviser and curator. 'What did you expect, Dad?' she asked me. 'Indigenous peoples love furniture, too.' Indeed. Happy National Indigenous Peoples Day. Niigaan SinclairColumnist Niigaan Sinclair is Anishinaabe and is a columnist at the Winnipeg Free Press. Read full biography Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Global News
2 hours ago
- Global News
Guelph recognizes National Indigenous Peoples Day
Guelph is among the communities across Canada acknowledging National Indigenous Peoples Day. To celebrate the day on June 21, an event is taking place at Riverside Park on June 20, featuring music, dancing and drumming and a performance by Oneida Wolf Clan, Six Nations singer/songwriter Lacey Hill. National Indigenous Peoples Day corresponds with the summer solstice and has been celebrated since 1996. Amina Yousaf, associate head of Early Childhood Studies at the University of Guelph-Humber, said more attention is being paid to Indigenous history inside the classrooms. 'It's not just about the history, but it's also about how we're learning to relate to each other today,' Yousaf said. 'And that's why it's more widespread and being embedded within the educational system within different areas.' Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Yousaf said that Indigenous studies is gaining more attention because people are starting to understand the importance of Indigenous history in Canadian history. Story continues below advertisement When Yousaf was younger, she said she didn't have the chance to learn more about Indigenous history and culture because it was often omitted. She said we all play a role to play in reconciliation and stresses the importance of teaching Indigenous history in elementary and secondary schools, not just in university. Since 2021, the Ontario government has been actively integrating Indigenous studies and making revisions to the school curriculum to incorporate Indigenous-focused content into subjects such as social studies and history. Yousaf said there are more educational resources available for students to learn about Indigenous history. Although the variety of accessible resources is helpful, she said more can be done. 'Make more space for Indigenous-led programs, for more research. And also, more leadership and bringing in more Indigenous voices and centring it within that knowledge. Just ensure that it is authentic,' she said. Yousaf said the history and culture of Indigenous Peoples Day should be acknowledged every day, not only on June 21. She also notes that students should educate themselves outside of the classroom, too.
Winnipeg Free Press
3 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Grandfather rock, symbolic sweat lodge on archdiocese grounds described as important symbols of reconciliation
After smudging and a prayer for the Creator's blessing, a grandfather rock and symbolic sweat lodge were unveiled Friday on the grounds of the Archdiocese of St. Boniface bishop's residence. The 1.5-metre-tall M'shoomis Asin, or grandfather rock, was donated to the archdiocese by a parishioner five years ago. The symbolic sweat lodge was welded by students at Murdoch MacKay Collegiate. Also unveiled at the ceremony was a panel about sweat lodges and grandfather rocks, which Indigenous people believe are sacred because they contain generational knowledge and a spirit. A panel with information about the grandfather rock appears in English, French, Lakota and Ojibwe. A second panel, in English and French, describes the role of sweat lodges in Indigenous tradition and culture. RUTH BONNEVILLE / FREE PRESS The 1.5-metre-tall M'shoomis Asin, or grandfather rock, was donated to the archdiocese by a parishioner five years ago. In his address, St. Boniface Archbishop Albert LeGatt said the grandfather rock and sweat lodge were important additions to the grounds, which also contain statues and panels acknowledging the work of religious orders in the province in nearby Heritage Park. LeGatt said the decision to recognize the importance of the rock was made last year when an elder told him it was, in fact, a sacred grandfather rock. LeGatt reached out to Clayton Sandy, an elder from the Sioux Valley Dakota First Nation, to find a way to acknowledge its significance. They came up with an idea to surround it with a symbolic sweat lodge, since heated rocks are a crucial part of those healing ceremonies. Together, they 'remind us of the richness of Indigenous tradition' and the history of the archdiocese, LeGatt told the 75 or so people gathered for the ceremony. He noted 'there have been moments of darkness in that history,' but by recognizing the grandfather rock and sweat lodges on church grounds the archdiocese is showing its commitment to reconciliation with Indigenous people, and to taking seriously the calls to action directed at churches by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. In this way, the archdiocese was showing 'the inherent value and worth of Indigenous spiritual values,' LeGatt said. In his remarks, Sandy noted the significance of the two items on church grounds since, for many years, Indigenous spiritual practices and traditional teachings were suppressed by the Roman Catholic Church. The unveiling showed that Roman Catholics and Indigenous people were making progress in the journey of reconciliation, he said, adding 'if we don't come together with open minds, nothing changes.' RUTH BONNEVILLE / FREE PRESS The grandfather rock and symbolic sweat lodge are located in front of the bishop's residence, built in 1864, at the corner of de la Cathedrale and Taché avenues. Tuesdays A weekly look at politics close to home and around the world. Speaking about the students who made the symbolic sweat lodge, Murdoch MacKay Collegiate welding teacher Collin Doyle said they 'really took ownership' of the project, and through it learned about the cultural significance. Vice-principal Jordan Zoppa added that for the students 'it was not just an assignment. They took it as a responsibility… they showed up with curiosity in their hearts.' LeGatt said he hopes the additions to the grounds will indicate to Indigenous people that 'this is a safe place and all are welcome.' For Sandy, whose parents and six siblings are residential school survivors — he was a '60s Scoop child — the event was significant because it was a 'symbol of healing between Indigenous people and the church… we have come a long way.' The grandfather rock and symbolic sweat lodge are located in front of the bishop's residence, built in 1864, at the corner of de la Cathedrale and Taché avenues. faith@ The Free Press is committed to covering faith in Manitoba. If you appreciate that coverage, help us do more! Your contribution of $10, $25 or more will allow us to deepen our reporting about faith in the province. Thanks! BECOME A FAITH JOURNALISM SUPPORTER John LonghurstFaith reporter John Longhurst has been writing for Winnipeg's faith pages since 2003. He also writes for Religion News Service in the U.S., and blogs about the media, marketing and communications at Making the News. Read full biography Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
