Ceremonial fast near Parliament Hill draws people from across Canada

Four sacred fires and several teepees line the Ottawa River facing Parliament Hill on Victoria Island today. Twelve indigenous and non-indigenous people from across Canada have gathered to fast — not drinking water or eating — for four days.

The fast began Monday, Dec. 8, alongside the Assembly of First Nation's Annual General Assembly and on the same day as the new Liberal government's announcement of a national inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women in Canada.

In an open invitation posted on his Facebook page in November, Manitoba Grand Chief Derek Nepinak asked people to join him.

• Manitoba Grand Chief Derek Nepinak to host fast near Parliament Hill
• MMIW: 1st phase of public inquiry outlined today

But unlike Chief Theresa Spence's fast at the peak of Idle No More three year ago, this fast is not for political leverage, nor to support a particular cause. Indigenous leaders say this fast is about gaining clarity and building mental and spiritual strength in a country they say has been less than accommodating to them in the past.

"I think that when we see the settler society doing their ceremonies transplanted here upon our ancient lands to usher in their new leadership, we should feel okay about doing our ancient ceremonies that existed here for thousands of years before anyone else's ceremonies arrived," Nepinak wrote in his Facebook invitation.

'Youth asking for these ceremonies': Fayant

Gabrielle Fayant, a Métis youth who joined the fast in Ottawa on Monday, is praying for the water and to reconnect with the power of ceremony.

Fayant says she decided to fast after a vision she had two months ago. Shortly after, she read Nepinak's post, and decided to speak with elders and conduct a pipe ceremony to make sure her fast would be safe.

Inspired by what she calls a spiritual awakening of Idle No More, Fayant started an organization called The Assembly of 7 Generations to empower cultural awareness among Indigenous youth.

"Even after all these years of assimilation and colonization we've been able to keep our spirituality alive. Now is the time. It's coming back and the young people are asking for those ceremonies," Fayant said from her home in Ottawa.

Fayant said this fast is unusually difficult.

"When people fast, they are usually out in the bush, undisturbed and they don't know what time it is or don't hear anything except what's in the nature, but here in the city you hear the peace tower ring every 15 minutes, you hear, traffic, construction," Fayant says from her home in Ottawa.

But fasting for Fayant was even harder. She has type 1 diabetes and needs insulin injections twice a day. Not drinking water or eating could be deadly.

"I had to break my fast after two days. The helpers wanted to make sure that I didn't put myself in any harm."

Helpers are men and women supporting the fasters by chopping wood, keeping the fires going, handling medicines and ceremonial items and preparing the final days feast food. They take cultural cues from elders they consult.

It was the first time in her life Fayant had ever fasted or slept in a teepee. In addition to praying for water, she was also fasting to remember the work indigenous and non-indigenous people have done to create change in Canada.

From across Canada

Some fasters have travelled from as far away as Vancouver and Winnipeg to this one space comprised of traditional lodges and oak trees, enclosed by tall wooden planks.

It a sacred space called Asinabka or Place of Glare Rock and been used by indigenous people for centuries. In the summer it operates as a tourism spot called the Aboriginal Experiences Centre.

Grand Chief Verna Polson from the Algonquin Anishinabe Nation is fasting for the women who are suffering and those who have come forward in her home territory of Val D'or Quebec. Others are praying for missing and murdered indigenous women in Canada.

Others are fasting in tandem with those at Victoria Island from their home territories. Anishinaabe photographer Nadya Kwandibens began her fast in Northern Ontario on Monday. She is fasting for the water, like Fayant.

In a Facebook post written days before her fast, Kwandibens said she wants water to be protected from pollution like tailings and from oil spills.

Fayant says even though she had to break her fast for health reasons, it was a powerful experience for her.

"It was a very important part of my spiritual journey, reconnecting with my ancestors. I have learned new teachings that I will carry with me as I continue growing and walking my healing journey."

Fayant is continuing to help the fasters on Victoria Island today. There will be a closing feast tomorrow at noon as the fast comes to an end.