The official launch of Indigenous Peoples Month at Toronto History Museums, a group of 10 museums owned and operated by the City of Toronto, took place this Tuesday (June 1).
The month-long online celebration will include tours, a culinary program, a shop experience that includes products from Indigenous artists and authors, and film and dance performances by emerging and established artists.
This month-long virtual program replaces the 2021 Indigenous Arts Festival, which cannot be held due to COVID-19.
“I encourage all residents to take part in this programming to learn more about Indigenous histories, strengths, and contributions as well as the resilience of all Indigenous communities”, Mayor John Tory said in a news release.
To support this month of programming, the city formed the Indigenous Peoples Month Task Force, rooted in the principles of the seven grandfather teachings, an Anishnaabe philosophy.
The program will also feature a partnership with imagineNATIVE Film & Media Arts Festival, two films produced by the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation: Niibi (Water), a youth theatre performance, and an educational film celebrating the Moccasin Identifier Project created by Carolyn King, O.C. and more.
Through the Toronto History Museums’ Awakenings program, two Indigenous-focused films will also be available: A Portrait in Red, filmed at Todmorden Mills, and Acknowledgment, filmed at Fort York. Both films are part of the project We Were Always Here.
Chief Stacey Laforme said Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation is proud to work with partners at Toronto History Museums to bring a month-long programming that highlights Indigenous Arts and Culture. “I personally believe the purpose of the arts is far more than entertainment. The arts bring people together, bridge gaps in communication, and allow for a deeper connection and understanding”, emphasized the Chief.
All performances and panels are free to the public. Advance registration will be required for select events. The full schedule will be available on June 9. More information is available at Toronto History Museums.
Indigenous Peoples Month at Toronto History Museums is a municipal initiative in partnership with the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation.
The City will mark National Indigenous Peoples Day virtually on June 21.
More than 80,000 residents in Toronto are from Indigenous communities. Toronto has the largest Indigenous population in Ontario and the fourth largest in Canada.