Hamilton Police are holding a sunrise ceremony hosted by Indigenous elders at its central headquarters as part of Indigenous People’s Day celebrations across the city and province today.
Allan Loft will speak about Words Before All Else at the ceremony beginning at 9 a.m.
Indigenous groups in Hamilton are praising the attempt of Hamilton Police to host such a ceremony at its headquarters.
The ceremony is being held later than traditional sunrise ceremonies to accommodate the schedules of all involved in the event.
The ceremony comes about a year after the relationship between Hamilton Police and its Indigenous residents became more strained than usual when news broke of a Hamilton Police officer using excessive force during an arrest of an Indigenous man on the city’s mountain.
The incident was caught on tape and the officer is facing criminal charges for his actions in which the victim suffered injuries.
The Hamilton Police force has since hired an Indigenous Liaison Officer, Stacey Hill, who is helping to improve relations between the police and Indigenous residents in the city.
There will also be a ceremony honouring Indigenous People’s Day at Hamilton City Hall at noon and it will be the first Indigenous People’s Day celebration for Mayor Andrea Horwath, who was elected last fall.
Other events are being held around Ontario to celebrate Indigenous People’s Day including:
-A gathering at the central branch of the Hamilton Public Library at 4:30 p.m.
-National Indigenous People’s Day celebration at noon at the Peel District School Board in Mississauga
-The Art Gallery of Hamilton will be celebrating Indigenous art from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on June 21 featuring works by its RBC Artist in Residence Melissa General and renowned artist Norval Morrisseau
-The Westdale Theatre will be holding a screening of Kanehsatake: 270 Years of Resistance at 2:30 p.m. The theatre is also holding a celebration of Indigenous music, art and film at 7 p.m. featuring Six Nations’ talent Gail Obediah, Cher Obediah and Lacey Hill
-Celebration Square in Mississauga is hosting celebrations beginning at noon and going until 9:30 p.m. The Michii Sagiig Anishinaabe Powwow will take place there from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
-The Public Service Alliance of Canada is holding celebrations at Charles Daly Park in Jordan Station from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
-Woodland Cultural Centre is holding events all day from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
-Community bbq and midway at noon at Six Nations Parks and Recreation grounds on Fourth Line
-Mississaugas of the Credit will host a community event at the MCFN community centre from sunrise to 11 a.m.
