As part of its events recognizing National Indigenous History month, Loyalist College is holding its first annual Summer Solstice Celebration this Saturday, June 22.
The public celebration being held at the Belleville campus from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. invites people to experience the rich cultural traditions of the Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabe Peoples and will feature smudging, lacrosse, drumming, powwow dancing, and the telling of the Haudenosaunee creation story.
Tewathahá:kwa Jennifer Maracle, Executive Director, Indigenous Initiatives and Reconciliation, calls the college’s Indigenous History Month events another important step in the process of decolonizing and Indigenizing the college.
“Indigenizing Loyalist College goes beyond student and employee education programming; it also encompasses celebration, cultural exchange, and relationship building,” says Tewathahá:kwa. “As we come together to honour the rich cultural traditions of our region, we hope to create meaningful opportunities for understanding and connection between our local Indigenous and non-Indigenous community members.”
Earlier this month the college kicked off its Indigenous History Month celebrations with a fish fry on campus where attendees enjoyed speared walleye, coleslaw and corn muffins prepared by Culinary Management graduate Chavis Maracle.
As guests ate, Chavis shared his experiences with spearfishing and the practices his family uses to replenish the fish population. “When we fish, we make sure that we never take more than we need, and we try to put back as much as we take,” he explained.
Later in June there will be a strawberry social where participants will learn about the significance of the strawberry as the first fruit of the summer for the nations of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy.
“Loyalist College is deeply committed to engaging with and learning from our Indigenous community members,” says Loyalist College President and CEO Mark Kirkpatrick. “As we celebrate Indigenous History Month, we are reminded of our responsibility to educate ourselves and honour Indigenous histories and cultures. We’re grateful for the leadership of our Tsi Titewaya’taró:roks team in creating essential opportunities for us to come together in celebration, understanding and mutual respect. We look forward to welcoming our extended community on campus this month to honour the summer solstice.”
