Celebrating Indigenous Peoples Day
Educate, Advocate, Celebrate!
By Emma Steele | June 18, 2021
As part of our professional pledge of reconciliation, Loop now celebrates National Indigenous Peoples Day as a paid holiday. As part of this day, and as part of a larger and more continuous process, we encourage everyone to take some time to get educated and celebrate the owners of the land that we live on today. This guide provides you with a few ways to do that.
Watch
Watch films and media from Indigenous creators, to celebrate their immense creativity and stories.
1. Beans
Inspired by true events, BEANS is about a Mohawk girl on the cusp of adolescence who must grow up fast and become her own kind of warrior during the armed stand-off known as the 1990 Oka Crisis.
Watch the trailer
Learn more about the Oka Crisis with the Secret Life of Canada Podcast
2. Life In The City of Dirty Water
Indigenous climate justice activist Clayton Thomas-Müller embarks on an intimate storytelling journey, overcoming trauma, addiction, and incarceration to become a leader for his people and the planet.
3. Highway of Tears
Narrated by Nathan Fillion, Matt Smiley’s hard-hitting documentary Highway of Tears not only movingly relates the personal stories of the victims, but investigates how the legacy of generational poverty, high unemployment and endemic violence in their communities contributed to their tragic fates — and how contemporary First Nations leaders are striving to cure those ills.
4. Maker of the Monsters: The Extraordinary Life of Beau Dick
Dick has an unprecedented ability to tap into the collective memory of his people and breathe new life into age old traditions. Maker of Monsters strives to unearth the factors that made Beau who he was – his deep connection to identity, family, and community, his struggle with addiction – and like a carver chipping away at a block of wood, his story brings truth and understanding out of the woodwork, Maker of Monsters illuminates a man whose art and life continue to transcend expectations and boundaries.
Listen
Whether it’s music or podcasts to better understand Canada’s continued colonization of First Nations, here are some good places to start.
1. Indigenous Canada: Course from the University of Alberta (As promoted by Dan Levy)
2. Podcast: Secret Life of Canada – The Indian Act
Get the low-down on the law that governs First Nations, even today.
3. Podcast: The Secret Life of Canada – The Bay Blanket
Many of us have a Hudson’s Bay striped blanket in our homes, learn about the history of it.
Celebrate
There are celebrations of Indigenous and First Nations culture streaming all weekend!
1. Streamed Music Event: Indigenous People’s Day Live
Sunday, June 20 @ 8PM #IDL2021
Watch a festival of Indigenous Culture, creators, music, and creativity at this festival/concert.
2. Celebrate Land
Take some time to enjoy the outdoors, and really appreciate and think about the land you are on. Whether it’s a park, the lake, a trail… connect and show appreciation for the land.
Learn more about the territories you occupy: https://native-land.ca/
Eat
Try traditional or modern twists on Indigenous cuisines by supporting a local Indigenous-owned restaurant.
1. Pre-Order: National Indigenous Day Feast by Chef Billy Alexander
A variety of different Indigenous meals with modern twists for pre-order and pick up on Sunday from Fort York
2. Pow Wow Cafe
In pop-up mode in Kensington Market with tacos, scone dogs and wildeside sodas
Advocate
Take an action this weekend, and use your voice.
1. Sign Petition: Canadian Residential School grounds and surrounding areas searched for children
2. Sign Petition: Stop the Canadian Governments legal battle with St. Annes Residential school survivors.
Support
1. The Native Canadian Centre of Toronto
The Native Canadian Centre of Toronto is a membership-based, charitable organization located in the heart of downtown Toronto in a beautifully renovated heritage building. NCCT offers a wide range of programs and services based on Indigenous cultural traditions and teachings. All are welcome.
