free event for The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation was held at Tollkeeper's Park in collaboration with The Indigenous People's Solidarity Group and The National Healing Forest Project.
Elder Catherine Brooks (also a youth counsellor at Anishnawbe Health) led the ceremony, which began with sage and tobacco being passed around. Brooks spoke about the importance of looking after one another in society and said that we aren't doing a good enough job of that. She said we need to listen to our youth and take care of them.
"We need to have the truth come out," Brooks said, "and most importantly people have to educate themselves about the 94 Calls to Action that came out of all the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission because people put their heart and their best minds into that."
Then the 416 singers and dancers performed.
Tollkeeper's Park was recognized as a National Healing Forest site, acknowledging the friendship between the Community History Project (Tollkeeper's Cottage) and the Mississaugas of the Credit.
After the ceremony, tea and bannock were served.
Over a hundred people attended the ceremony.
All photos were taken by Laura Proctor for The Hoser on September 30, 2022
Jingle dress dancer Nichole Leveck dances with her child Indiana Cada at a ceremony on The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation at Tollkeeper’s Park in Toronto on September 30, 2022. Photo by Laura Proctor
Jingle dress dancer Nichole Leveck speaks at a ceremony on The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation at Tollkeeper’s Park in Toronto on September 30, 2022. Photo by Laura Proctor
Joseph Cada dances at a ceremony on The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation at Tollkeeper’s Park in Toronto on September 30, 2022. Photo by Laura Proctor
Drummers played while jingle dress dancers danced throughout the ceremony on The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation at Tollkeeper’s Park in Toronto on September 30, 2022. Photo by Laura Proctor
Jingle dress dancer Nichole Leveck performs at a ceremony on The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation at Tollkeeper’s Park in Toronto on September 30, 2022. Photo by Laura Proctor
(Left to right) Nazarene Pope, Indiana Cada and Nichole Leveck enter to dance at a ceremony on The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation at Tollkeeper’s Park in Toronto on September 30, 2022. Photo by Laura Proctor
Elder Catherine Brooks leads a ceremony on The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation at Tollkeeper’s Park in Toronto on September 30, 2022. Photo by Laura Proctor
Tobacco and sage are handed out at a ceremony on The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation at Tollkeeper’s Park in Toronto on September 30, 2022. Photo by Laura Proctor
Elder Catherine Brooks leads a ceremony on The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation at Tollkeeper’s Park in Toronto on September 30, 2022. Photo by Laura Proctor
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