Mark National Indigenous Peoples Day in Hamilton, Niagara and Six Nations with these events

Ahead of National Indigenous People's day this Friday, Heather George says she's feeling grateful. 

She directs the Woodland Cultural Centre in Brantford, Ont., which is on the site of the former Mohawk Institute residential school. George says she's appreciative that she works at an institution dedicated to preserving what residential schools tried to destroy. 

"I'm really grateful that I get to bring my daughter to the residential school that her great uncles were taken to, and it gets to become a space where she gets to learn about culture," George told CBC Hamilton in the lead up to June 21, also known as Solidarity Day. June is also Indigenous History Month. 

The First Nations-managed centre has a mandate to preserve and promote Indigenous language, culture, art and history.

While their staff will mark June 21 by being in community, the centre itself will host a celebration for the day on Sunday, June 23, featuring live performances by Indigenous musicians as well as demonstrations of traditional dances and sports, and tours.

"For non-Indigenous folks, it's a really great way to experience Indigenous culture and heritage directly from Indigenous people. And it's also just a really fun time," George said.

This week, events marking the day — including markets supporting Indigenous artists, performances and tours exploring Indigenous history — are happening across the region. 

Here's what's on in Hamilton, Niagara, Burlington, Brantford and Six Nations. 

A virtual tour of the Mohawk Institute

June 20, 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. Virtual

This pay-what-you-can event will offer people a tour of the former Mohawk Institute Residential School.

The tour also includes historical information, a look at the different rooms in the building and interviews from five survivors of the former residential school.

Payments will aid efforts to restore the institute and turn it into a historic site and educational resource.

An evening of Indigenous beadwork in Hamilton

June 20, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., 83 Stanley Ave., Hamilton

Later that day, in Hamilton, local Indigenous beadworkers will be selling their collections and showing off vintage and antique beadworks.

Anishinaabe journalist and storyteller Ryan McMahon will also speak about the history and importance of beadwork to Indigenous communities.

Ace of Cups and Decolonial Little Library will host the event and 20 per cent of Ace of Cups sales will support the little library.

The Mush Hole: the residential school experience through dance

June 20, 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., June 21, 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., McMaster University, 1280 Main St. W, Hamilton

On Thursday and Friday, people can watch a theatrical dance performance that reflects the realities of the Mohawk Institute residential school.

The Mush Hole is based on the experiences of survivors. The performance follows three students, a mother and a father. The performance doesn't include words, instead relying on movement and music.

Each performance ends with a post-show chat with the cast.

Tickets are between $20 and $30.

26th Annual Soaring Spirit Festival & Pow Wow

June 21, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., June 22 and 23, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. 77 King St. W., Hamilton

This weekend the Battlefield Museum and Park Historic Site in Stoney Creek will host traditional Indigenous dancers, drummers and vendors — and it's free for anyone who wants to attend.

On Friday, there will be live music.

Saturday and Sunday will feature a sunrise ceremony.

There will also be vendors and food.

Singers, dancers and a documentary in Hamilton

June 21, 7:30 p.m., The Westdale, 1014 King St. W., Hamilton

The Westdale cinema will have an evening with conversation, music, dance and film to commemorate National Indigenous Peoples Day.

The celebration will include James Wilson, Spirit Vision Drum & Dancers, The Mohawk Singers, and the premiere screening of the short documentary film Tecumseh by Cher Obediah.

Tecumseh is about a historical hero who navigated a colonizer mindset to reimagine the landscape of Turtle Island.

The evening will end with a discussion panel about Indigenous art, identity, and the difficulties faced working towards the goal of Reconciliation.

The event is free but you must register online for a ticket.

A concert at noon in Hamilton

June 21, 12 p.m. to 1 p.m., Central Library, 55 York Blvd., Hamilton

Libraries are often quiet places, but it won't be at noon on Friday.

James Wilson, a Mohawk and French-Canadian singer-songwriter from Six Nations of the Grand River, will perform.

Hamilton City Hall celebration

June 21, 12 p.m. to 1 p.m., 71 Main St. W., Hamilton

In the city hall forecourt, the City of Hamilton's Indigenous Relations team is hosting a celebration featuring singing and drumming. 

Workshop at the Niagara Falls History Museum

June 21, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., 5810 Ferry St., Niagara Falls

At the Niagara Falls History Museum, a free workshop by Cindy Biancaniello, whose grandfather was an Inuktitut interpreter, will showcase photos of Inuit life going back to 1897. 

Music, exhibitions and more in Burlington

June 21, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Spencer Smith Park, 1400 Lakeshore Rd., Burlington

Burlington's Spencer Smith Park will host music, craft vendors and more on Friday evening.

Some of the event's features include a performance by Amber Kakiishiway, music by Cliff Cardinal and Matt Bergman, a Powwow exhibition by Jamie Lindsey and a tobacco ceremony by WhiteEagle.

It's a free event with no registration needed.

Lacrosse, drumming and more in Brantford

June 21, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Earl Haig Waterpark, 101 Market St. S., Brantford

It'll be an all day affair in Brantford for National Indigenous Peoples Day.

There will be drummers, singers, dancers, food, crafts and lacrosse demonstrations.

The event is free but the maximum capacity is 585 people.

Pay-what-you-can films in St. Catharines

June 21, 4 p.m. The Film House, 250 St Paul St, St. Catharines

On Friday, The Film House in St. Catharines will feature a trio of pay-what-you-can films from Indigenous filmmakers.

Kayak to Klemtu tells the story of a 14-year-old girl who speaks out against a proposed pipeline that would bring oil tanker traffic to the waters around her hometown.

Run Woman Run is about a single mom who learns how to reclaim her dreams, family and honour her life, all thanks to an unlikely coach.

Falls Around Her focuses on a successful singer who leaves everything behind to return to her reservation to live alone.

All proceeds will go to the Niagara Regional Native Centre.

Friendship Centre celebration

June 21, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fort Erie Native Friendship Centre, 796 Buffalo Road, Fort Erie, Ont.

The friendship centre will host an all-day event including a sunrise ceremony, guest speakers, contests, food and dancing. 

Solidarity Day in Six Nations 

June 21, 12 p.m. - 5 p.m. Six Nations Community Hall, 1738 Fourth Line.

A day of festivities that includes food, entertainment and a Midway.  

FrancoFest in Hamilton marks NIPD

June 21, 5 - 11 p.m., Gage Park, Hamilton 

The first day of FrancoFest's annual event falls on National Indigenous Peoples Day. The evening's programming will be dedicated to the day, with Samuel Tremblay, better known by his stage name Samian, performing as one of the festival's headliners. The Anishinabeg rapper and actor is a member of the Abitibiwinni First Nation in Pikogan, Que. He performs in French and Anishinaabemowin.

Celebration at the Woodland Cultural Centre

June 23, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. 184 Mohawk St., Brantford, Ont.

The cultural centre in Brantford will host live performances by Indigenous musicians as well as demonstrations of traditional dances and sports. Free with a suggested $10 donation, the centre will also have workshops and tours of its museum and galleries. 

Conversations and hand puppets at Hamilton Public Library

June 27, 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., June 28, 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Central Library, 55 York Blvd., Hamilton

Author Jeffrey Luscombe will discuss his new book, To Refrain From Embracing, with author Jessica Rose, on the evening of June 27 at Hamilton's Central Library. The book is about a struggling Hamilton family and includes a character "rediscovering her Indigenous identity," according to the library.

The following afternoon at the Red Hill branch, theatre group Rabbit and Bear Paws will present the story of how Turtle Island came to be. 

A play about 'Pretendians' at the Niagara-on-the-Lake Museum

June 27, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. 43 Castlereagh St., Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont. 

For a donation, visitors can watch Blood Sport, a satirical play by Mohawk writer January Rogers about people falsely identifying as Indigenous. 

Audio tour of Niagara Glen

Self-guided. 3050 Niagara Pkwy, Niagara Falls, Ont.

With a free app, visitors to the Niagara Glen nature preserve can enjoy an audio-tour curated by Michele-Elise Burnett and audio-engineered by William Riech Jr., who are Metis with Algonquin roots and members of the Bear Clan.