On Sept. 30, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, the City of Toronto and Toronto Council Fire hosted the 7th annual Indigenous Legacy Gathering outside of City Hall.
The event was dedicated to the restoration of Indigenous identity and culture, while amplifying public awareness of the darkest moments in Canadian history.
This year’s celebration spanned three days from Sept. 27 to 30, and was filled with music, sculptures, dance, sacred ceremony, guest speakers, storytellers, as well as cultural discourse.
From sunrise to sunset, performers took the stage in a beautiful display of culture and community, including All Nations Juniors Drum, Metis Performers, Inuit Singers, Aztec Dancers, Cree Nation storytellers, and Dakota Tipi teachers.
The event culminated with the inauguration of the Spirit Garden in the heart of Nathan Phillips Square, preceded by a commemorative walk of the grounds.
The 19,250 square foot garden space honours the survivors of the residential school system. The six-feet-tall limestone turtle sculpture created by Anishnaabe artist Solomon King is nestled in the center and displays the names of 18 residential schools formerly in operation in Ontario.
The garden also harbours many Indigenous artworks and sites, such as the spirit canoe sculpture by Tannis Neilsen, an Inukshuk by Henry Kudluk, the Three Sisters garden by Raymond Skye, and a wood teaching lodge by John Keeshig Maya-waasige.
Shane Gerard, the Communications Coordinator for the City of Toronto, attests to the city’s future commitments to the Reconciliation Action Plan, which will guide Toronto’s efforts towards truth and justice until 2032.
The Indigenous Legacy Gathering advances specific Calls to Action by the Truth and Reconciliation Commision of Canada.
Call to Action 80 recognizes Sept. 30 as a statutory holiday and as a day to commemorate the resilience of Indigenous groups against the oppressive residential school system. Call to Action 82 proclaims the erection of monuments displaying the impact of residential schools in each capital city, such as the Spirit Garden in Nathan Phillips Square.
Fourth-year theatre student, Celine Daaboul says, “Having the garden in such a prominent location allows the public to have quick access to it.” and maintains its presence in public discourse and memory.
Beyond Nathan Phillips Square, the City of Toronto and other civic centres recognized the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation by raising the Survivors’ Flag at half-mast to honour the survivors and communities impacted by the residential school system.
The celebration of Indigenous culture also extends to the Market Gallery above the St. Lawrence Market. It hosts the ReconciliACTION exhibit, which boasts multimedia pieces by Nyle Miigizi Johnston, showing Anishnaabe stories in multimedia format.
The exhibition is open until Dec. 29, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., every Wednesday through Sunday, and is part of a series of exhibitions at Toronto History Museums celebrating Indigenous culture.
