Community Events and Park Renaming Important Steps in Promoting Cultural Understanding
Lincoln ON – (June 20, 2023) – The Town of Lincoln encourages all residents to seek out opportunities to learn about and celebrate Indigenous People and their culture on June 21, National Indigenous Peoples Day. For generations, many Indigenous groups and communities have celebrated their culture and heritage on June 21 because of the significance of the summer solstice as the longest day of the year.
Residents are welcomed to join and learn more together about Indigenous history on June 21 by participating the Moccasin Identifier Project community event, at Rotary Park (5020 Serena Drive, Beamsville) from 12pm-4pm. The Moccasin Identifier Project builds treaty and Indigenous public awareness by covering Canada in moccasins and uses four moccasin symbols reflective of the Indigenous diversity of Ontario. These stencils were adapted by acclaimed Indigenous artist Phil Coté from the original 16th-century moccasins in the private collection of the Bata Shoe Museum. Additionally, a StoryWalk® will also be held in the park featuring the book Sometimes I Feel Like a River by Danielle Daniels (Anishinaabe and settler).
Through out the month of June, the Lincoln Museum and Cultural Centre and Lincoln Pelham Public Library will be offering several engaging learning opportunities for people of all ages to further their understanding of Indigenous people and culture:
Lincoln Museum and Cultural Centre Exhibitions:
- Ziibaaska'iganagooday: Commonly known as the jingle dress, Ziibaaska’iganagooday is a prayer dress that has a rich history dating back to the early 1900s among the Ojibwe (Anishinaabeg) people. Today, the dress and dance has spread across Turtle Island. The Jingle Dress Dance has become a popular competition grouping at powwows and continues to hold deep significance, representing spirituality, healing, and pride.
- Sge:no eye:twahs (She is Planting the Peace): A depiction of Jikonhsaseh, the first clan mother and considered by many Iroquois as the ‘mother of nations’. She was an important proponent for peace between warring nations that later became the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. The artwork connects the Indigenous history of Jordan Village prior to European settlement, and with the modern-day Six Nations, on whose traditional territory the museum lies. Artist, Odadrihonyanisoh (Sara General) belongs to the Turtle Clan and the Mohawk Nation.
Lincoln Pelham Public Library
- Indigenous Animals Scavenger Hunt (Drop-in available daily, 10am-5pm, all branches). Search for woodland animals and learn their names in Ojibway. Artwork by Autumn Smith from Magnetawan First Nation.
- Indigenous Story Time (June 20, 10:30am, Fleming Centre Branch, Beamsville) Listen to Indigenous stories read by Courtney Corbeil (Kanyen'kehà:ka and settler) and stencil a colourful moccasin. For ages 5 and under and caregivers.
- Artist Showcase: Brian Kon (Drop-in daily, 10am-5pm, Moses F. Rittenhouse Branch, Vineland) Stop by and see the dot artwork of Métis artist Brian Kon, which is a modern version of traditional beadwork created by Métis people. Each "bead" is applied as a single dot of paint to create the images. Many of the designs in Brian's paintings can be traced to beadwork found on historic clothing and possessions of Métis people.
- Indigenous Tea Tasting and Book Talk (June 20, 6:30-7:30pm, Moses F. Rittenhouse Branch, Vineland) Nichole L’Hirondelle, owner of The Barn Swallow Tea and Bookshop, will lead a tea tasting of Indigenous teas and share her story of reconnecting to her First Nations culture, followed by a book talk about recommended titles by Indigenous authors.
“National Indigenous Peoples Day is an annual reminder for all of us to recognize and celebrate the unique heritage, diverse cultures and outstanding contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Métis along with their distinct languages, cultural practices and spiritual beliefs”, said Town of Lincoln Mayor Sandra Easton. “We encourage all residents to participate in community activities to learn more about the richness and diversity of Indigenous cultural expressions and stories.
Additionally, on June 19, 2023, Lincoln Town Council approved in principle, the re-naming of Jordan Hollow Park to Sho’aríshon (So-ah-ree-son) Park, with the goal to acknowledge and celebrate the Indigenous connections to the land, in particular that of the Neutral Nation. The name Sho’aríshon was carefully selected with full support of Indigenous advisors including the Niagara Regional Native Centre. Town Council will ratify this decision on June 26, 2023.
“By using Indigenous language when naming public spaces, we are acknowledging our responsibility to Reconciliation and we are taking concrete steps that are helping us to achieve important progress” said Chief Administrative Officer, Michael Kirkopoulos. “This is a small action, and not the only action we need to take, but it is very important and necessary and helps to raise awareness of the many rich and vibrant Indigenous cultures in Canada, both past and present”.
Sho’aríshon is the modern Mohawk spelling of a Neutral Chief from the 1620s. It is one of four words that survives of the Neutral Language. Sho’aríshon translates to “he is shaking the net” in Mohawk, which also references the park’s location next to the beautiful Twenty Mile Creek. Located in Jordan, the park is scheduled to be re-developed in 2024.
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For information, please contact:
Liliana Busnello
Manager of Corporate Communications
Town of Lincoln
905-563-2799 ext. 230
About National Indigenous Peoples Day
National Aboriginal Day, now National Indigenous Peoples Day, was announced in 1996 by then Governor General of Canada, Roméo LeBlanc, through the Proclamation Declaring June 21 of Each Year as National Aboriginal Day. This was the result of consultations and statements of support for such a day made by various Indigenous groups:
in 1982, the National Indian Brotherhood, now the Assembly of First Nations, called for the creation of National Aboriginal Solidarity Day
in 1995, the Sacred Assembly, a national conference of Indigenous and non-Indigenous people chaired by Elijah Harper, called for a national holiday to celebrate the contributions of Indigenous Peoples
also in 1995, the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples recommended the designation of a National First Peoples Day
On June 21, 2017, the Prime Minister issued a statement announcing the intention to rename this day National Indigenous Peoples Day.
Additional Resources:
- Niagara Regional Native Centre
- Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation
- National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation
- Government of Canada - About National Indigenous History Month
