Indigenous Cultural Celebration

12:35 p.m. Okichitaw Indigenous Experience with Okimakahn George Lapine

1 p.m. Métis Jigger, Auriele Diotte

1:25 p.m. Storytelling with Traditional Anishinaabe Grandmother Kim Wheatley

1:50 p.m. Big Drum with Fancy Shawl Dancers Je'niya & Cherish Newell

2:10 p.m. Anishinaabe Spoken Word Artist, Sarah Lewis

2:35 p.m. Big Drum with Women’s Jingle Dress and Men’s Grass Dance presentation

3 p.m. Inuuk Throat Singers, Tamara Takpannie and Janice Oolayou

3:25 p.m. Hoop Dancing with Nimkii Osawamick

3:45 p.m. Big Drum with Twin Prairie Chicken Dancers

4 p.m. Event concludes

Children's Area

12 - 4 p.m. Conundrum with David Hynes

12 - 4 p.m. Sensory Area, featuring origami, flower bomb making and more. 

2 - 2:40 p.m. Ballet of Canada Creative Movement workshop

Interactive Area

1 - 4 p.m. 

• Okichitaw Indigenous Experience with Okimakahn George Lapine, featuring an Indigenous throwing experience - the tomahawk, short lance, and knife as well as gunstock war club. 
• Elder Teaching with Elder Dorothy Taylor
• Potential Hoop Dancing interaction with Nimkii Osawamick
• Potential Métis Jigging interaction with Auriele Diotte

The Indigenous Cultural Celebration is an Indigenous social celebration where community members can gather and enjoy traditional singing and dancing.

All community members, including non-Indigenous, are welcome and are strongly encouraged to attend and participate in what this celebration has to offer.

Experiencing a cultural celebration emphasizes the importance of relationship-building with everyone while providing opportunities to learn more about Indigenous culture and knowledge.

While attending a cultural celebration, there are some rules that guests must follow:

• Visitors should always ask permission from Dancers or presenters before taking photos.
• Do not touch the Dancers' regalia (clothing) without asking permission first.
• Wait for the Master of Ceremonies' instructions before taking pictures or videos. Some parts of the event are sacred and prohibit any photography or videography. 

You can expect a full day of traditional ceremonies, singing, and dancing, including a highlight of different styles of regalia and dance called a special. There will be a range of tables featuring Indigenous artisans, businesses, information booths and more. Guests are encouraged to stop by anytime to watch the events and shop.

There will be limited seating throughout the park, you are encouraged to bring a blanket to sit on the lawn and are welcome to bring your own lawn chair. 

Please note: there is limited shade at this location, you are encouraged to bring your own umbrella or canopy. 

There is no registration required for community members to attend. This is a drop-in, free event.  

Vendors and displayers/sponsors must complete a request form to participate no later than May 19 at midnight. Anything received after this date will be reviewed, but participation will be based on availability and cannot be guaranteed.  

This event is an in-person event only.

This is an outdoor event. 

Yes, there will be a select amount of samplers available to try from local Indigenous caterers as well as food vendors that will be setup on site.

Food can be consumed throughout the park, but guests are asked to be mindful not to eat around regalia, craft vendors, workshops or teachings. 

Yes, though you are required to bring your own reusable water bottle to refill at the watering station. Vendors may have refreshments available for purchase as well.

The Indigenous Cultural Celebration is a drug and alcohol-free event. This will be enforced. 

No pets allowed. Service animals with the appropriate documentation are welcome.

Yes, there is a lot that fits 120 vehicles with five accessible parking spots at the main parking just south of the bridge on Simcoe St. S.  There is also parking on the north side of Harbour St. There will be designated spots for vendors and presenters. 

Additional parking is available south of Ed Broadbent Waterfront Park at Lakeview Park. 

No, there is no fee to park at Ed Broadbent or Lakeview Park parking lots. 

However, there will be designated spots for vendors and presenters to park in the Harbour St. parking lot located north of the park. This will be enforced and display parking permits will be required.

Please ensure you are following the appropriate signage. 

Parts of this celebration may include sacred ceremonial practices the should not be photographed or video graphed. The Master of Ceremonies will announce when pictures and videos are appropriate. Visitors must ask permission from dancers and vendors before taking photos of individuals. 

There are no requirements for people to wear a mask or social distance. However, if you are feeling unwell we ask that you wear a mask or stay home.

Some members of the community may choose to continue to wear a mask. We ask everyone to respect each other’s decisions, comfort levels and health needs.