First Light sees largest turnout ever at National Indigenous Peoples Day celebration

Drumming, singing and the smell of sage filled Bannerman Park this morning for First Light's sunrise ceremony. 

The event kicked off National Indigenous Peoples Day, a day to recognize and celebrate First Nations across Canada.

"We're very fortunate to be one of the first in Turtle Island to greet the sun. And so, that's a big responsibility for us to do that in a good way," said First Light's communication specialist Kelly Young.

First Light is a non-profit organization based in St. John's that offers programming and services for the urban Indigenous community and works on preserving Indigenous culture.

Young says the sunrise ceremony went wonderfully, and that she is happy they were greeted by a bright warm sun despite the chance of rain in the forecast.

"I'm really impressed with the crowd of people that came," said Young. "It was incredible, so powerful."

The ceremony included prayers, greetings to the sun, and giving thanks to the Earth. Attendees also participated in a smudging ceremony and shared blessed water and berries.

Young said everyone in the community was welcome to participate in the ceremony, adding that National Indigenous Peoples Day is an opportunity for non-Indigenous people to learn from Indigenous people, and appreciate their culture.

During the ceremony, Young helped smudge some attendees.

"There was a woman, actually I heard her, she was quite nervous that she didn't know how to smudge properly. And that really touched me because there is no wrong way to smudge," said Young.

The ceremony included drumming and singing performances from the St. John's Mi'kmaw Women's Circle and Eastern Owl.

WATCH | See how National Indigenous Peoples Day was celebrated in St. John's:

National Indigenous Peoples Day in St. John’s is all about showcasing culture

1 hour ago

Duration 2:24

The day, which coincides with summer solstice, was celebrated in Bannerman Park in St. John’s Saturday, and included throat singing, powwow dancing and drumming.

One song performed by Eastern Owl honoured the Beothuck, the Indigenous inhabitants of Newfoundland, who disappeared after European colonization.

"It is also so important, as Indigenous people, to remember all Indigenous people who we've shared this land with," said Young.

Biggest event of the year

First Light held more celebrations in Bannerman Park from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

At the park, attendees could find powwows, drumming, dancing and singing, as well as hair braiding, storytelling, food and even Inuit games.

Community empowerment liaison Marc Humber said the celebration is First Light's biggest event of the year, and this year, they've had their biggest turnout ever. 

"Last year, we had a couple thousand people come through the park by 5 p.m. and I think we might have done that already and it's only 1 p.m.," he said.

For Humber, the event holds significance as powwows were once prohibited in Canada.

"It was illegal for us to show the pride that we have in our culture," he said. "We're so proud that we're able to showcase all the talented artists we have."

Humber said the event was also an important opportunity to educate non-Indigenous people about Indigenous culture, and that Newfoundland and Labrador is situated on the traditional territories of the Inuit, Innu and Mi'kmaq.

"Truth and reconciliation is the name of the game here. And that all begins by showing people who we are and that we've always been here," said Humber.

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