First Light sees largest turnout ever at National Indigenous Peoples Day celebration
CBC
Drumming, singing and the smell of sage filled Bannerman Park this morning for First Light's sunrise ceremony.
The event kicked off National Indigenous Peoples Day, a day to recognize and celebrate First Nations across Canada.
"We're very fortunate to be one of the first in Turtle Island to greet the sun. And so, that's a big responsibility for us to do that in a good way," said First Light's communication specialist Kelly Young.
First Light is a non-profit organization based in St. John's that offers programming and services for the urban Indigenous community and works on preserving Indigenous culture.
Young says the sunrise ceremony went wonderfully, and that she is happy they were greeted by a bright warm sun despite the chance of rain in the forecast.
"I'm really impressed with the crowd of people that came," said Young. "It was incredible, so powerful."
The ceremony included prayers, greetings to the sun, and giving thanks to the Earth. Attendees also participated in a smudging ceremony and shared blessed water and berries.
Young said everyone in the community was welcome to participate in the ceremony, adding that National Indigenous Peoples Day is an opportunity for non-Indigenous people to learn from Indigenous people, and appreciate their culture.
During the ceremony, Young helped smudge some attendees.
"There was a woman, actually I heard her, she was quite nervous that she didn't know how to smudge properly. And that really touched me because there is no wrong way to smudge," said Young.
The ceremony included drumming and singing performances from the St. John's Mi'kmaw Women's Circle and Eastern Owl.
One song performed by Eastern Owl honoured the Beothuck, the Indigenous inhabitants of Newfoundland, who disappeared after European colonization.
"It is also so important, as Indigenous people, to remember all Indigenous people who we've shared this land with," said Young.
First Light held more celebrations in Bannerman Park from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
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