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

On September 29 and 30, Toronto Council Fire Native Cultural Centre, located in the heart of Regent Park, celebrated their the 6th annual Indigenous Legacy Gathering to acknowledge and honour residential school survivors, their children and communities, and commemorate Orange Shirt Day.

Undertaken by Toronto Council Fire Native Cultural Centre in collaboration with the City of Toronto, the Indigenous Legacy Gathering showcased and celebrated the diversity of Indigenous Peoples’ cultures, traditions and languages through workshops, presentations, stories, teachings, dance, film and music.

The indigenous gathering was an opportunity to learn, reflect and engage. For this purpose, Nathan Phillips Square was transformed into a cultural space with vibrant tipis on the site and programming from Indigenous community agencies.

A sacred fire burned over the two days, allowing visitors to make offerings and prayers. Each morning of the Gathering began with a 7 a.m. sunrise ceremony conducted by Elders, Knowledge Keepers and visitors.

The ceremony was followed by welcoming words and acknowledgements with invited guest speakers including Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow, Shawn Batise Deputy Minister, Ontario Indigenous Affairs, and Ontario Regional Chief Glen Hare.

This year’s Gathering focused on Grandmother Moon. Within Indigenous Creation Stories, Grandmother Moon plays a vital role in bringing harmony to the world and is honoured for guiding all cycles of life, recognizing that the event this year took place on a full moon.

The Gathering also promoted the development of the Spirit Garden as a permanent feature on Nathan Phillips Square. The Garden responds to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Call to Action 82, for governments to commission and install a Residential Schools commemoration sculpture in each national and provincial capital city to honour residential school survivors and all the children lost to their families and communities. The Spirit Garden, which is under construction, is to be completed in 2024.

Events like this are important to the Regent Park community to commemorate the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and to remember First Nations, Inuit and Métis children who never returned home from residential and day schools, survivors and their families.

RPTV Reporters Fred Alvarado and Kedar Ahmed were at the event to interview community members and witness the grand entry which symbolized the strength of residential school survivors and the unity within Toronto’s diverse Indigenous population.