Five 40-foot panels of glass beads created by a local Indigenous artist, Hamilton’s largest public work, will call west harbour home.
The city is inviting the public to celebrate one of its newest pieces of public art, “All Our Relations,” on Sept. 30, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
The event includes drumming at 10:30 a.m., as well as remarks from lead artist Angela DeMontigny and performances at 11 a.m. It takes place at the foot of James Street North, north of Guise Street.
The panels, “adorned with thousands of colourful glass beads represent traditional Indigenous teachings, the Thanksgiving Address (as shared by Haudenosaunee elders and knowledge keepers) and Hamilton’s biodiversity,” reads a Sept. 25 city release.
The artwork was commissioned through a process led by the city and Hamilton Waterfront Trust, and aligned with the municipal urban Indigenous strategy.
The federal holiday coincides with Orange Shirt Day, an Indigenous initiative to recognize the harm caused by the Canadian residential schools.
In its 140-year history, at least 15,000 children attended the former Mohawk Institute in Brantford, one of the country’s oldest and longest-running residential schools.
At the Woodland Cultural Centre, which now operates the former residential school building, Sept. 30 is reserved for survivors to gather, remember and celebrate Indigenous culture through beading workshops, corn husk dolls and entry into the institute itself, which is otherwise closed to the public while under construction.
Here are ways to commemorate the day in the Hamilton area:
Events in the Hamilton area
- Visit the Woodland Cultural Centre, including the newly reopened museum, where you can learn about the history of the residential school, experience Indigenous art and culture and pick up an orange shirt from the gift shop. The institute itself is currently closed to the public for renovations, but visits to the grounds and cultural centre are permitted.
- Take a virtual tour of the Mohawk Institute, which take place throughout the month. The centre also offers “lunch and learn” sessions for the workplace and educational programming for classrooms.
- Visit the memorial for the 96 known deaths at the Mohawk Institute during its more than 140 years of operation until the end of the month. The memorial is on display at the Survivors’ Secretariat at 2676 Fourth Line Rd., Ohsweken. Lawn signs and car decals are available for visitors while supplies last.
- Explore the night sky through an Indigenous lens at McMaster University’s planetarium for “The Celestial Bear: The Six Nations’ Night Sky.” The show, which runs until Sept. 30, is developed through a collaboration between the Indigenous studies and physics and astronomy departments at Mac.
- Attend the unveiling of a mural by Six Nations artist Kyle Joedicke in a McMaster health sciences department. The event, which will include a jingle dance and speeches, takes place from 9 to 10 a.m. on Friday at the Institute for Applied Health Sciences.
- Watch film “Bones of Crows“ at the Landmark Theatre in Jackson Square on Friday at 9 a.m. The 2022 psychological drama follows the journey of a Cree woman, including her experiences in the residential school system.
- Join the Hamilton Regional Indian Centre for its second annual Truth and Reconciliation event on Friday and Saturday. The event, which includes speakers, vendors, knowledge keepers, drumming and dancing, begins at 11 a.m. on Friday at the Gage Park bandshell.
- Indigenous staff and students are invited to lunch in L.R. Wilson Hall’s ceremonial room and to join a fire in the courtyard at noon on Friday on McMaster’s campus.
- Enjoy a picnic and a free “family game night pack” at a drive-thru giveaway at Oneida Business Park on Friday at 5 p.m. Visitors are limited to one pack per family while supplies last.
- Experience the McMaster Museum of Art Exhibition, Chasm, with a focus on Indigenous sovereignty. An opening reception will be hosted Thursday evening from 5 to 8 p.m.
- Learn about McMaster chancellor Santee Smith’s personal family connection to the Mohawk Institute through a talk and performances by Kaha:wi Dance Theatre’s “The Mush Hole” dance artists. The free event takes place Friday at 6 p.m. at L.R. Wilson Hall.
- Commemorate with a day of culture, food and art at Mohawk Park, hosted by Brantford Native Housing. Visitors are encouraged to wear orange shirts to the free public event from 1 to 6 p.m. on Saturday.
- Walk and reflect in Burlington. Join a memorial walk starting at the Spencer Smith Park pier in downtown Burlington at 4 p.m. on Saturday. Walkers are encouraged to wear orange shirts and moccasins, the mayor’s website says. Local Indigenous groups will share a public display and a ceremony between 4 and 7 p.m. in the park.
- Read a book. Hamilton Public Library is offering a curated list of books by Indigenous authors this month.
What’s open and closed
In Ontario, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation isn’t a statutory holiday. However, some businesses may close to observe it. Federally regulated workplaces will close to commemorate the day.
- City of Burlington offices will be closed on Friday “to mark the importance of the day.”
- Canada Post offices are closed Monday, Oct. 2
- Banks are closed for the holiday. Royal Bank’s website say it’s closed Sept. 30, while TD Bank is closed Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 and 2.
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