No relationship is more important to the Canada Gov than the one with Indigenous Peoples: Mélanie Joly

​​Image of Mélanie Joly. Image credit: twitter handle

​#NationalAboriginalDay, #IndigenousArtsFestival, #Toronto, #Canada, NationalAboriginalHistoryMonth, #JohnTory, #Mélanie Joly, #Aboriginal Peoples Television Network

Toronto, June 15 (Canadian-Media): National Aboriginal Day (NAD), celebrated in Canada on June 21 of each year, would collaborate this year, with the Indigenous Arts Festival (IAF) in its celebrations in acknowledgement of June as National Aboriginal History Month, a Toronto press release reported.

The largest and the free celebrations of NAD wth IAF will be held from June 21 to 25 at Fort York National Historic Site, 250 Fort York Blvd., Toronto, ON M5V 3K9.

“Toronto joins cities across the country in celebrating National Aboriginal History Month and National Aboriginal Day,” said Mayor John Tory. "We recognize the unique culture, history and significant contributions made by First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples to our city and to Canadian society. I encourage all residents to join in the celebrations." 

More than 30 performances by indigenous artists from across Canada, featuring traditional and contemporary music, dance, theatre, storytelling, visual arts, crafts and food would be included in the five-day festival.

Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage also made a call to the people across Canada to come together in the spirit of reconciliation to make the most of this National Aboriginal Day.

“No relationship is more important to the Government of Canada than the one we have with Indigenous Peoples. This is why we are proud to support National Aboriginal Day, which will feature exciting events and programming across the country, including right here in Toronto. This day offers Canadians a one-of-a-kind opportunity to deepen their knowledge of Indigenous cultures and be in a better position to discover their rich heritage,” said Mélanie Joly.

Highlights of the festival include the following performances/events starting June 21:

On June 21, Nunavut’s first ever Juno Award-winning Inuk singer/songwriter, and William Prince, 2017 Juno Award winner for Contemporary Roots Album of the Year, Performed by Susan Aglukark.

Aboriginal Day Live, would be presented also on June 21, an eight-city event and live concert broadcast by Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN) featuring Classified, Derek Miller, Eagle & Hawk, Eekwol and Willows

on June 22, A free outdoor screening of the acclaimed National Film Board (NFB) musical documentary The Road Forward by Marie Clements.  The film connects the beginnings of Indian Nationalism in the 1930s -- a pivotal moment in Canada’s civil rights history -- with the powerful momentum of First Nations activism today.

June 23 presents Jumblies Theatre: Talking Treaties Pageant, a multi-arts project and immersive performance installation that brings together professional and community performers with the goal of artfully sharing local indigenous knowledge and awareness.

June 24 features performances by Canadian Country Music Award and Juno Award winner Crystal Shawanda and "the voice in the wilderness” singer/songwriter Nick Sherman.

Highlights of June 25 are: Performances by captivating singer/songwriter duo Twin Flames, rising star Shawnee and Ulali (featuring traditional hand drumming, choral singing and pre-Columbian music).


The funding of NAD is done partly by the Government of Canada.

Aboriginal Day Live is produced by APTN -- the first national Aboriginal broadcaster in the world, with programming by, for and about Aboriginal Peoples -- in partnership with the City of Toronto and funded by Government of Canada, Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), Investors Group and Toronto Domnion (TD) Bank Group. 

Production of The Indigenous Arts Festival is done in partnership with the City of Toronto and the Mississauga of the New Credit First Nation and it would be presented by TD Bank with financial support from the Government of Canada and Tim Hortons. 
 
(Reporting by Asha Bajaj)

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