Community event at Fort York celebrates National Indigenous Peoples Day

A community event that showcases Indigenous cultures is underway in Toronto at the Fort York National Historic Site.

The Indigenous Arts Festival and Na-Me-Res Pow Wow, which runs from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, officially kicked off on Friday. It is a celebration of National Indigenous Peoples Day, which is marked on Saturday. 

"This free community event celebrates traditional and contemporary Indigenous music and dance, along with artisan and culinary experiences from First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples across Turtle Island," the city said in a news release on Thursday.

Cathie Jameson, of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, welcomed people to the event on Friday.

Jameson said it's important to have powwows in the heart of Toronto and to gather, speak, see one another and feast with one another. Gathering is part of reconciliation and that helps to heal traumas, she added.

"You're acknowledging past, present and future. You are acknowledging all of the ancestral lives that have walked through here because you are a descendant of that," she said.

The event features community booths, artisans and performances. On Saturday night, Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow is expected to attend.

On its website, the federal government says of National Indigenous Peoples Day: "National Indigenous Peoples Day takes place on the summer solstice, the longest day of the year.

"For generations, many First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities have celebrated their cultures, languages, and traditions at this time of year. The summer solstice holds deep spiritual and cultural significance for many Indigenous Peoples, marking a time of renewal, connection, and celebration."