From the spark of a sacred fire at sunrise to the beat of drums bridging unity across the nation, the Celebration of Nations will bring three days of Indigenous arts, culture and tradition to downtown St. Catharines – and Niagara College will be a part of it all.
The three-day gathering hosted by the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre (PAC) will be held from Sept. 10-12, featuring Indigenous artists, music and dance, visual arts and film, creative workshops, teachings and activities, and more. This year’s Celebration of Nations will feature hybrid, in-person programming at the PAC – with many outdoor activities in the backyard – as well as virtual offerings that will be livestreamed via Facebook, YouTube and, celebrationofnations.ca.
This year marks the milestone fifth year for the Celebration of Nations, and this year’s theme, ‘On Seeking Wisdom’ will guide the events, searching for insight to understanding how things got to be the way they are and what decisions, drawn from wisdom need to be made for the future.’
Niagara College is a sponsor of this year’s Celebration of Nations and will be a participant. A College booth will be on-site outdoors for the duration of the event, where staff from NC Indigenous Education and student volunteers will share information and network with the community.
“Partnerships are key to strengthening the message of unity and friendship that remains at the heart of Celebration of Nations. Our Indigenous leadership, as well as the producing team at FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre, are honoured and grateful to continue our important shared work with Niagara College as we continue to walk the path of reconciliation together,” said Sara Palmieri, Director of Programming and Marketing – FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre. “Celebration of Nations continues to make positive and lasting impacts in Niagara and beyond as we work together to create a more inclusive future for each other and the next seven generations.”
Niagara College President Sean Kennedy noted that the Celebration of Nations is a very important and meaningful special event, and that the College is honoured to participate and to offer support.
“Niagara College is very fortunate to have a thoughtful and engaged Indigenous community on our campuses and this year’s Celebration of Nations theme, ‘On Seeking Wisdom,’ is especially relevant to us as an educational institution,” said NC President Sean Kennedy. “We hold space for Indigenous voices while seeking to learn about and celebrate Indigenous ways of knowing, being and doing, and their importance to the cultural and environmental fabric of our communities.”
Tthis year’s theme, ‘On Seeking Wisdom’ struck a chord with NC Indigenous Student Success Leader Ashley Buck. “We are all lifelong learners,” she said. “This event is an opportunity to learn from Indigenous arts, stories and teachings.”
Buck also believes that it is more important than ever for the College community to participate, at a time when Indigenous voices are amplified after the discovery of mass graves at residential schools. “It is important for the College community to get involved and engaged in experiential learning; to sit, witness and experience Indigenous culture,” she said.
NC alumnus leads Sunrise Ceremony and teachings Sept. 10
The Celebration of Nations will kick off on Sept. 10 with a Sunrise Ceremony (6-7 a.m.) led by Elder Dave Labbe, who is an alumnus of Niagara College (Electronic Engineering Technology, 1971). Following the early morning ceremony to be held in the backyard of the PAC, Labbe will share stories and teachings about the Innu Confederacy (7-8 a.m.) View event details: Coffee and Bannock: Innu Confederacy: Bringing Home the Summers with Elder Dave Labbe
Drums Across Canada Sept. 12
Indigenous Education is encouraging Indigenous students from the College to join the Drums Across Canada event, which will conclude the Celebration of Nations on Sept. 12 (4-6 p.m.).
The event will begin in the backyard of the PAC and will be shared with three anchor drum circles in Saint John, New Brunswick; London, Ontario; and Nanaimo, British Columbia. It will be presented live, in person, and broadcast through a virtual livestream. Pop-up drum circles from across Canada are invited to join the call, and connect with Indigenous communities nationwide to grow, learn and change together.
Indigenous Student Success Leader Emily Schutt said that students are encouraged to participate in person at the PAC, at home, or by following the livestream (through the Celebration of Nations Facebook page).
Those who participate in the drumming are asked to share their photos and videos via social media and use the hashtags: #DrumsAcrossCanada and #CelebrationofNations.
Follow the livestream
Follow the virtual livestream of Celebration of Nations at:
PAC Facebook and YouTube
Celebration of Nations Facebook
Kakekalanicks Indigenous Arts Facebook.
Attend at the PAC
Visit the PAC to the Celebration of Nations in-person activities (250 St. Paul St.) Many activities will be outdoor in the backyard of the PAC.
COVID-19 safety measures will be in place, including mandatory face masks, reduced capacities, enhanced cleaning protocols.
Most Celebration of Nations events, including performances and teachings, are free, with the exception of two in-person concerts to take place inside Partridge Hall at the PAC (those concerts will also be livestreamed for free viewing).
Visit www.celebrationofnations.ca/venues-info/ for location info.
