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Indigenous History Month
June is Indigenous History Month and in celebration, Indigenous flags are placed in the first-floor windows of Town Hall. These flags represent:
- Anishinaabeg
- Haudenosaunee
- Huron-Wendat
- Métis Nation
- Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami
Learn more about each flag below:
National Indigenous Peoples Day
June 21st is National Indigenous Peoples Day, dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the rich cultures, traditions, and contributions of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples all over Canada. National Indigenous Peoples Day takes place on the summer solstice which has traditionally been a time of year where First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities have celebrated their cultures and languages. This day is an opportunity for all people to engage in learning, reflection, and celebration while honouring Indigenous histories.
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day
September 30th is The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a day to honour the children who never returned home and the Survivors of Canada’s residential school system, as well as the families and communities deeply impacted by these institutions.
Orange Shirt Day is also on September 30th, symbolizing the stripping away of culture and loss of identity experienced by Indigenous children in residential schools. On September 30th, we encourage everyone to wear orange to honour the survivors of residential schools, raise awareness about the impacts of residential schools, and to further the “Every Child Matters” movement.
To mark this day, the Town of Collingwood flys the Canadian Flag at half-mast from dawn until dusk, the clock tower is lit orange and we fly the Every Child Matters flag on Community Flagpole located at the Collingwood Public Library/Municipal Offices.
A permanent poetry installation is on display at the Awen’ Gathering Place. 'A Tribute to Our Stolen Spirits' was written by Jillian Morris, Kanien’kehá:ka, Six Nations. Interactive trail markers were temporarily in place along Harbourview Park trails sharing Indigenous stories, resources, and teachings, also available by scrolling through the storymap below.
Indigenous Veterans Day
November 8th is Indigenous Veterans Day, a day in honour of First Nations, Inuit and Metis for their military service during times of war, conflict and peace with commitment, courage and excellence. Throughout our history, Indigenous veterans have risked their lives to defend and protect our fundamental freedoms. We owe our deepest gratitude for their bravery, sacrifice and service. The legacy of our colonial history and racism has meant that First Nations, Inuit and Metis people have had to fight for recognition and equal treatment, including on Remembrance Day.
National Day of Awareness and Remembrance for the MMIWG2S
May 5th is The National Day of Awareness and Remembrance for the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit People (also known as Red Dress Day), a day to honour the lives of Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals who have gone missing or been victims. It is also a day to pay tribute to the strength and resilience of families, survivors and communities who continue to advocate for justice, healing, and concrete action.
The REDress Project is an installation art project introduced by Jaime Black, a Métis visual artist, to raise awareness and draw attention to gender and race-based violence.
