A two-day Indigenous legacy gathering is being held in Nathan Philips Square to honour residential school survivors this week, from Nov. 4 to 5.

The gathering is planned and hosted by The Toronto Council Fire Native Cultural Centre in partnership with the City of Toronto.

The legacy gathering showcases and celebrates the diversity of Indigenous Peoples’ cultures, traditions and languages through workshops, presentations, stories, teachings, dance, film and music.

“Council Fire is proud to host this year’s Indigenous Legacy Gathering once again, following a 20-month lockdown and recent discoveries of those unmarked gravesites, said Council Fire board designate Andrea Chrisjohn. "This gathering will serve as an opportunity to bring our families, friends, and supporters together in a setting that celebrates the resilience of residential school survivors who continue to embrace their national identities through their voice, language and practices, denied to them in these institutions.”

Each day will begin with a sunrise ceremony at 7 A.M., and daily events include featured speakers, presentations and music performances.

The gathering will also promote the spirit garden as a permanent structure responding to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada Call to Action 82. The spirit garden will honour residential school survivors and all the children who were lost to their families and communities. Its completion is set for 2023.

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