A ceremonial fire was lit as the sun slowly peaked over the city and drumming and songs played through the streets of downtown. Early this morning, Elder Garry Sault and Grandmother Kim Wheatley held a sunrise ceremony outside of Nathan Phillips Square as a start to the annual National Indigenous Peoples Day. Geoff Daybrutch was the fire keeper for the event.

This ceremony is held every year on the summer solstice, the longest day of the year. The event is to allow “people to come together to share in offering prayers and in giving thanks for all of creation and Mino Baamodziwin (The Good life),” writes the City of Toronto.

“No matter where you come from, remember to give thanks for these lands…whatever language you speak I invite you to give thanks to those beautiful grandmothers and grandfathers,” says Wheatley.

Lieutenant Governor of Ontario Elizabeth Dowdeswell was in attendance. Wheatley says that Dowdeswell asked for permission to attend and to honour Dowdeswell for coming, Wheatley waited for Dowdeswell to arrive before starting.

As is custom, smudging, water and strawberries were offered throughout the ceremony to all who attended with Wheatley providing lessons on the offerings to the crowd. Strawberries, known in Anishinaabe as "o-day’min" or “heart berries” are an important traditional medicine in Indigenous culture that is also a symbol of reconciliation.

“I hope your hearts are beginning to open up and embrace our way of life. The things that are truly important to us. This is our day of remembrance, celebration and ceremony. Across this beautiful great island of ours we are conducting ceremonies on our home,” says Wheatley. “I’m here to remind you that we are still here.”

As the ceremony came to a close, all those in attendance were allowed to give offerings and prayer to the fire. Tobacco and strawberries were cast into the fire while Dayburtch kept the fires stoked to allow everyone a chance to give an offering.

Catherine Brooks, a youth worker at Anishnawbe Health, was in attendance and found the ceremony to be spiritually uplifting.

“It makes me feel whole, complete and very happy. These are the things we’ve been doing since time immemorial. What’s wonderful is that we get to share these beautiful ceremonies with people from all four directions,” says Brooks. “I see people coming to learn and joining us in singing, praying and putting our minds together for the good of the future of all the beings that live on turtle island.”

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