City of Toronto celebrates National Aboriginal Day

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Toronto celebrated National Aboriginal Day with a week of events designed to bring attention to Aboriginal culture in the city.

The festivities began with the ninth annual Toronto Aboriginal City Celebration, which took place June 17 at Nathan Phillips Square, outside city hall. The event featured live music, vendors, and information tables. It was joined by the Neekawnisidok art exhibition, which ran from June 16 to 21 in the rotunda inside city hall. National Aboriginal Day was celebrated on June 21 with more events in the square, including a sunrise ceremony, flag-raising ceremony, and the Buffalo Jump Unity Walk from Nathan Phillips Square to Fort York.

The June 17 festivities featured live music programmed by Toronto's Aboriginal Voices Radio (106.5 FM). Actress Tamara Podemski, who played Mimi in the Broadway production of Rent, previewed songs from the album she's currently recording. The audience clapped and whistled for songs such as All My Relations, which Podemski sang in Hebrew and Ojibway in honour of her Jewish/Ojibway ancestry. Podemski was accompanied by musicians playing djembe drum and acoustic guitar.

TruRez Crew filled the square with their rap music. They were followed by Mohawk guitarist Derek Miller, who wowed the crowd with selections from his Juno Award-winning album, Music Is the Medicine. Traditionalists were treated to the music of the Eagleheart drum and Spirit Wind.

A mix of Aboriginal organizations and government departments filled more than two dozen information tables. Vendors included Tsimshian designer Ronald Everett, who showcased his original clothing featuring West Coast-style art and button blankets. He sells his clothing over the Internet and is a regular attendee at festivals.

"I'm reluctant to start selling in stores, because of the high markup. When I sell direct to the public, there's no retail markup," Everett said.

The Neekawnisidok art exhibition inside City Hall featured work produced by local and regional artists. Notable pieces included a 1995 print by Joseph Sagaj, Mike Couchie's 2003 digital abstraction of a buffalo, Lorraine Hughes' 2003 oils on canvas, and Curtis Wabie's 2003 mixed media installation/sculpture of a dreamcatcher made out of computer parts and featuring a wire fringe.

Although National Aboriginal Day fell on a weekend this year, organizer Mae Maracle said the Toronto Aboriginal City Celebration took place on a weekday because "it began as a day to increase awareness about Aboriginal culture for city workers, and we've continued to hold it during the week so city workers and local businesses can participate. We also don't want to take away from any of the celebrations planned by the community on June 21."