By Fred Alvarado Fred is a community journalist with FOCUS MEDIA ARTS CENTRE

Recently, Toronto Council Fire Native Cultural Centre celebrated 'Health Gathering—Restoration of Identity, Indigenous Knowledge in Health' at Daniels Spectrum Centre at Ada Slaight Hall. The event gathered urban indigenous community members, service providers and allies to bring awareness and support on aboriginal healing & wellness and urban healthy living. The indigenous health gathering was a free event and it was open to everyone in the Regent Park area. It had singing by Red Bear singers, hoop dancers, community engagement activities, door prizes, and light refreshments.

There were also one-on-one assessments with Toronto Public Health Dental Clinic, Chiropractic Memorial College of Canada, Indigenous Diabetes Health Circle, Knowledge Keepers and more.

Laurie Okimawinew, Cultural Resource Coordinator at the Health and Wellbeing sector of Toronto Council Fire Native Cultural Centre, spoke to RPTV News to share her thoughts about the importance of serving urban indigenous people in Toronto.

“Many of our indigenous people that comes to this big city were coming from smaller communities and once we entered the city, we sometimes find ourselves lost within the big city, and you do see people become homeless but they were people that were housed at one point in their communities. It’s a cultural shock to us. At least as an indigenous agency here in Regent Park we serve all people, all indigenous people and non indigenous people as well. We bring awareness through all different forms of services and we are so lucky of being able to serve people that live within Toronto”, said Laurie Okimawinew.

Events like this are critical to Downtown East communities to bring spiritual, physical and mental health support and provide counselling, material assistance and other direct services to First Nations people.