“We want to celebrate all facets of Aboriginal, Metis, and Inuit life, and provide a forum to discuss contemporary Aboriginal issues,” says Yvonne Hunter, Manager for Cultural and Special Events Programming at the Toronto Public Library. In celebration of Aboriginal History month in June, the Toronto Public Library has assembled a variety of events and programs, including this Sunday’s three-part celebration of National Aboriginal Day at the Nate and Bluma Appel Salon at the Toronto Reference Library.
“The theme is Giganawendamin Dibaajimowinan, which means, ‘We keep the stories.’” The
afternoon begins with Cherie Dimaline. Currently the TPL’s Writer in Residence, Dimaline will lead a traditional round dance alongside the Smoke Trail Singers. As Hunter says, “With the round dance, we welcome dancers, singers and storytellers.”
The second event will be
The eh List Presents Lee Maracle and Marilyn Dumont. “They’re both incredibly impressive people,” says Hunter. Maracle, a Metis poet, is the author of A Really Good Brown Girl, and Dumont is a novelist and the author of Celia’s Song. They will be discussing traditions, boundaries, and a sense of self in Native communities.
As the
final event, Michael Enright will host a panel discussion about the violence facing Canada’s indigenous women. Appearing on the panel will be Deborah Richardson, the Deputy Minister of Aboriginal Affairs; Angela Sterritt, a writer, motivational speaker, and artist; and Audrey Huntley of No More Silence. “This year, Canada’s missing and murdered aboriginal women are central to the panel discussion,” Hunter says.
All the events are free to the public, and Hunter is hoping that event has widespread appeal. “The salon audience is typically interested in culture, in contemporary issues, in literature, and this event represents all those things. We try to create pathways to culture through some of the programming we do.”
Hunter stresses that, while Aboriginal History Month may be in June, the library focuses on indigenous culture year-round through its
Native Peoples collection. “Just because we focus the programming for a month doesn’t mean it’s not happening at other times. Wab Kinew is back in the salon in September, and that promises to be a really lovely event as well.”