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Time of India
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Sunrise ceremonies, cultural festivals, and community events across Canada mark the celebration of National Indigenous Peoples Day
Why is National Indigenous Peoples Day celebrated? Live Events Prime Minister Mark Carney's statement Celebration across the country (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Songs and drumbeats echoed along the shoreline as the sun rose over the Atlantic Ocean on Saturday morning(June 22). About 40 people gathered near Louisbourg to take part in a Mi'kmaw sunrise ceremony, led by residential school survivor and Eskasoni First Nation Elder Lottie Johnson, marking the beginning of National Indigenous Peoples Day across Canada.'It's a very special time. It's quiet, and as the sun comes up, you see the creation of the creator,' Johnson said. 'Everything is so beautiful, and it's like almost-new again. That's where you get the hope and the will to go on.'The day, celebrated annually on June 21, the summer solstice, honors the history, cultures, and achievements of First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities. First recognized in 1996, the national event now includes hundreds of community-led gatherings and Indigenous Peoples Day was first proclaimed by the former Governor General, Roméo LeBlanc, in 1996. It is a statutory holiday in the Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut, and is increasingly recognized as a vital part of Canada's broader journey toward truth and reconciliation Prime Minister Mark Carney issued a statement reaffirming the federal government's commitment to reconciliation as he said, 'Supporting Indigenous communities, advancing self-determination, implementing treaties, and creating generational wealth and prosperity are central to our commitment. The government will work in full partnership with Indigenous Peoples advancing shared priorities such as health care, food security, housing, education, economic prosperity, conservation, climate action and emergency management.'In Winnipeg, the Forks hosted the opening of Many Nations, One Heartbeat, an 11-day cultural festival featuring Indigenous music, fashion, games, and crafts. Organizers said the festival also honors communities displaced by ongoing wildfires in Vancouver, the Tsleil-Waututh Nation unveiled a six-metre house post by artist Zac George outside the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. The city also hosted its third annual Downtown Eastside block party, transforming East Hastings Street into a celebration of Indigenous art, food, and North Slave Métis Alliance in Yellowknife served freshly caught whitefish from Great Slave Lake at a community fish fry, while in Whitehorse, residents enjoyed a jigging contest and bannock bake-off at the Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre. Governor General Mary Simon of Ottawa welcomed youth to Rideau Hall, where they planted heart-shaped messages in a memorial 'heart garden' to honor victims and survivors of residential schools. 'Each heart is a symbol of our collective responsibility,' her office were also held in Toronto, Montreal, Saskatoon, Regina, St. John's, Charlottetown, and beyond, often featuring powwows, music, dancing, and traditional ceremonies.
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
Mi'kmaw sunrise ceremony near Louisbourg starts National Indigenous Peoples Day
About 40 people gathered at the break of dawn Saturday along the Atlantic coast near Louisbourg, N.S., for a Mi'kmaw sunrise ceremony to kick off National Indigenous Peoples Day. The ceremony was led by Eskasoni First Nation Elder Lottie Johnson, who said it's meant for all people to share. But as a residential school survivor, Johnson said the ceremony holds extra meaning for her. "It's a very special time. It's quiet and as the sun comes up, you see the creation of [the] creator. Everything is so beautiful and it's like almost-new again. That's where you get the hope and the will to go on." Johnson regularly conducts the sunrise ceremony and said dawn is a good time to connect with the Earth and to pray. National Indigenous Peoples Day did not exist when she went to the residential school in Shubenacadie, but June 21 and the summer solstice hold special meaning for many of those who went. "June 21 was Freedom Day, what they called it," she said. "That was the day you get to go home for the summer. But not all of the kids went home. Some of them had no places to go, so they stayed." The sunrise ceremony, which is sacred and cannot be recorded, was organized by Allison Bernard Memorial High School teacher Jonathan Cox, along with other members of his union, the Public Service Alliance of Canada. He said holding the ceremony at Louisbourg is an important part of reconciliation, honouring the original inhabitants of what is now Canada. "It's not just a checkbox. It's something we need to do — all the settlers, colonizers, Mi'kmaq, non-Mi'kmaq, visitors." The union's first sunrise ceremony was held last year in a clearing by a look-off not far from the historic Louisbourg lighthouse, which was being refurbished at the time. The beacon is on the site of the first lighthouse in Canada, lit in 1734 by the French at the entrance to the harbour across from what is now the Fortress of Louisbourg. Now that the work on the existing structure has finished, the sunrise ceremony was held east of the lighthouse on a small cape looking out over the cold North Atlantic Ocean. Before dawn, it was windy and cold, with the ceremony conducted in a huddle using a couple of large vehicles as windbreaks. Not long after the ceremony, the clouds broke up and the sun came out. Cox said despite the cold, everything was as it should be. The Mi'kmaq are known as the People of the Dawn and they call Cape Breton Island Unama'ki, the Land of Fog. "It is a perfect way to start this day," he said. "This should be a national holiday, but we'll start with ceremonies like this, so that people can celebrate heritage." "I don't think there's a better place anywhere, period, to see the sun come up." MORE TOP STORIES
CBC
a day ago
- General
- CBC
Mi'kmaw sunrise ceremony near Louisbourg starts National Indigenous Peoples Day
About 40 people gathered at the break of dawn Saturday along the Atlantic coast near Louisbourg, N.S., for a Mi'kmaw sunrise ceremony to kick off National Indigenous Peoples Day. The ceremony was led by Eskasoni First Nation Elder Lottie Johnson, who said it's meant for all people to share. But as a residential school survivor, Johnson said the ceremony holds extra meaning for her. "It's a very special time. It's quiet and as the sun comes up, you see the creation of [the] creator. Everything is so beautiful and it's like almost-new again. That's where you get the hope and the will to go on." Johnson regularly conducts the sunrise ceremony and said dawn is a good time to connect with the Earth and to pray. National Indigenous Peoples Day did not exist when she went to the residential school in Shubenacadie, but June 21 and the summer solstice hold special meaning for many of those who went. "June 21 was Freedom Day, what they called it," she said. "That was the day you get to go home for the summer. But not all of the kids went home. Some of them had no places to go, so they stayed." The sunrise ceremony, which is sacred and cannot be recorded, was organized by Allison Bernard Memorial High School teacher Jonathan Cox, along with other members of his union, the Public Service Alliance of Canada. He said holding the ceremony at Louisbourg is an important part of reconciliation, honouring the original inhabitants of what is now Canada. "It's not just a checkbox. It's something we need to do — all the settlers, colonizers, Mi'kmaq, non-Mi'kmaq, visitors." The union's first sunrise ceremony was held last year in a clearing by a look-off not far from the historic Louisbourg lighthouse, which was being refurbished at the time. The beacon is on the site of the first lighthouse in Canada, lit in 1734 by the French at the entrance to the harbour across from what is now the Fortress of Louisbourg. Now that the work on the existing structure has finished, the sunrise ceremony was held east of the lighthouse on a small cape looking out over the cold North Atlantic Ocean. Before dawn, it was windy and cold, with the ceremony conducted in a huddle using a couple of large vehicles as windbreaks. Not long after the ceremony, the clouds broke up and the sun came out. Cox said despite the cold, everything was as it should be. The Mi'kmaq are known as the People of the Dawn and they call Cape Breton Island Unama'ki, the Land of Fog. "It is a perfect way to start this day," he said. "This should be a national holiday, but we'll start with ceremonies like this, so that people can celebrate heritage." "I don't think there's a better place anywhere, period, to see the sun come up."
Hamilton Spectator
29-05-2025
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Chief Leroy Denny given four more years to lead Eskasoni
A jubilant Chief Leroy Denny live-streamed a message to his community Tuesday night after learning he had won yet another election and will lead the Eskasoni First Nation for another four years. He already has 15 years of leadership under his belt with the largest Mi'kmaq community in the world. Speaking in Mi'kmaq and English, the first thing the chief did was express gratitude to those who helped him come through a contentious election in which he was up against six other candidates. And the second thing he did was express respect to all the candidates who put their names forward to run. 'We heard your issues,' he said. 'Let's get on with the work. Let's focus on healing.' During the election, the candidates were respectful of each other, but people in the community took to social media to throw out unfounded accusations of everything from fraud, to greed and nepotism, to improprieties of all kinds. But at the end of counting day Tuesday, Chief Denny won the most votes with 1,148 cast for him. The vote counts were unofficial as of deadline time. And just as the returning chief was gracious in victory, other candidates for chief were gracious in their unsuccessful attempts. Candidate Darlene Marshall wrote on social media that she wanted to thank the community for the honour of candidacy for chief this term. 'Regardless of who is elected, want to express my optimism that our community will continue throughout this upcoming term to be respected with transparency and accountability by our leadership. Our community should be a reflection of community members and governed for us by us,' she said. Fellow candidate, Alyssia Jeddore was equally gracious in her response to Denny's win. 'I am so grateful to the 693 people who believed in me! This was such an eye-opening experience – hearing all the things our community wants and needs. I am truly humbled by it,' she said. 'I was so happy to show what a community approach to campaigning looked like, and it took off like wildfire. One of my goals was to unite the community which I saw happen with all the positive events that took place. 'I truly love our community and our people. All I ever wanted for our community was to strengthen what exists currently. I want to congratulate the elected Chief Denny and Council. Let's go!' For his part, Chief Denny summed up what most of the candidates said in their approach to voters: 'We all love Eskasoni.' NEW COUNCILLORS The youngest candidate for band council, Cole Stevens, 21, and a local sports star, garnered 423 votes in his first try at politics. Twelve councillors were elected out of a field of 61 running. Only two, Kateri Stevens and Jerod Francis are new to council: (unofficial counts) ABOUT THE COMMUNITY
Hamilton Spectator
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Meet the seven candidates in the race for chief of Eskasoni First Nation
Seven candidates are running for Chief of Eskasoni First Nation, the largest Mi'kmaq First Nations community in the world. Three women and four men are going door-to-door and hosting meet and greet events leading up to the May 26 election. Seven candidates are running for Chief of Eskasoni First Nation, the largest Mi'kmaq First Nations Band in the world. Three women and four men are going door-to-door and hosting meet-and-greet events leading up to the May 26 election. CHIEF LEROY DENNY Leroy Denny was first elected chief in 2010. He garnered twice the votes of his nearest opponent in the last election in 2021 which was held up for ten months because of the COVID-19 pandemic. During his last term – the first four-year term in the band's history – Denny concentrated on housing and employment and took on some contentious work around the ongoing battle between First Nations and the federal government over fishing rights. He is running based on his record over the last 15 years of serving the needs of the largest Mi'kmaq community in the world with 4,750 band members. Last November, Denny was elected by the Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi'kmaw Chiefs as its new co-chair to represent all the Unama'ki (Cape Breton) communities. He also holds the chair positions for the boards of Mi'kmaw Kina'matnewey (education initiative), Native Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselling Association, and the Health Partnership. He is a graduate of Cape Breton University and a strong proponent of education in his community. He is an advocate for the Mi'kmaw language and supports youth endeavours in his community. ALYSSIA JEDDORE A mother of four daughters, Alyssia Jeddore holds three degrees: bachelor of science; bachelor of arts; and bachelor of education, and considers herself a lifelong learner. Other education includes a designation in Certified Aboriginal Professional Administration. Her focus in this election is both uniting and empowering her community. Presently working as Eskasoni's Business Development Manager, Jeddore wants to: 'invest in education, healing, jobs and opportunities for all.' Jeddore is calling for more transparency and accountable governance. She would like to ensure that meeting minutes are accessible to the public; local governance has an open door policy; and improved communications among band members and departments so that all – even those not on social media – can be kept informed. Her platform stresses the importance of strengthening Eskasoni's future through education and developing skills and better opportunities in trades and professional development. Jeddore wants to work to protect the Mi'kmaq language and cultural teachings. A major part of her platform calls for looking for economic and business opportunities that serve to promote self-determination with the hope of implementing Treaty Rights without outside interference. TUMA CHRISTMAS Thomas Stephen (Tuma) Christmas is running on a platform of more open transparency about the workings of the band council and chief. He is disappointed with what he sees as 'secrecy' within the administration and people working for themselves and not the community as a whole. The signs supporting Christmas all have the slogan: 'For greater transparency and accountability' written underneath his name. Christmas wants to strengthen property rights, and allocate more band funds towards home renovations and home building, education, health care, policing, and community infrastructure. If elected, he says he will raise wages and provide financial support to people wanting to succeed. At the same time, if elected, Christmas pledges to 'conduct an internal investigation into fraud in healthcare, pandemic spending, water/sewer investments, fisheries, RCMP and any other departments linked to the administration.' DARLENE MARSHALL For 38 years, Darlene Marshall worked for the Eskasoni Band Council and has worked alongside five chiefs. She recently retired and is running for the position of chief herself. Marshall is a member of the First Nations Housing Professional Association. 'I have worked at the senior level of the administration within the Eskasoni Band, tirelessly advocating for families to ensure their needs are met with urgency and care. I gained a comprehensive understanding of our internal governance process, systems, operations, capacity and external governance processes. Most importantly, I learned the unique needs of our people and pursued a broad spectrum of relevant training and education to ensure I am equipped to meet the evolving needs of our community,' she said shortly after her nomination. Marshall's approach to voters is that she has had the privilege of representing the Mi'kmaw Nation at the local, regional and national levels as an expert in housing and emergency management. She served on numerous committees providing strategic guidance to drive meaningful change, contributing to improvements in national policy, funding structures, and better Indigenous relations with the federal government. INKIN NELSON YOUNG Inkin Young is a prevention counsellor with the Native Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselling Association. He does not have a presence on social media and is hoping his knowledge of his community and knowledge of them will serve him well in the election. JONATHAN LINDSAY PAUL On Facebook, Johnathan Lindsay Paul – known as 'Billy Goat' – says his plan is to create a border pass at the entrance to Cape Breton and people must show their status card to enter for free. He proposes a $2 fee to come into Eskasoni, suggesting this will create a few jobs with the profit going to paving new and old roads throughout the community. In a social media post, he is also calling for ID card license plates which are monitored for their 'comings and goings' in and out of Eskasoni. Paul's reasoning is that it will make a safer community for the children. If Paul wins the election as chief, he wants to have only band members working on the band council. He is a local Facebook video personality who documents cars and his trips around the country. A seventh candidate, Samantha Doucette, could not be reached.
