
A sunrise ceremony was held at the Giche-name-wiikwedong reconciliation garden at Kelso Beach at Nawash Park in Owen Sound on National Indigenous Peoples Day, Tuesday, June 21, 2022. (photo supplied by Francesca Dobbyn)
The Gichi-Name Wiikwedong Reconciliation Garden committee is hosting its annual Sunrise Ceremony this weekend to celebrate National Indigenous People’s Day.
Mark Plummer from the committee says the ceremony is being held at the south end of Kelso Beach at Nawash Park on Saturday, June 21, from 5:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m.
“We are celebrating their culture and history and we have people who come from the community and talk about the history and the trees and how we can be stronger together,” says Plummer.
The ceremony will include a teaching from an elder about the importance of strawberries in Indigenous culture as well as a water blessing. There will also be drumming and a sacred fire.
“After the ceremony is done, we are offering tea and strawberries for everyone to enjoy,” says Plummer.
In addition to celebrating Indigenous People’s Day, the event also marks the summer solstice.
“The summer solstice is a big event in of course Indigenous culture. It is usually when the prayers and ceremonies are done, especially for the ancestors,” says Plummer.
All are welcome to attend the Sunrise Ceremony.