Beginning on Friday at noon with a Flag Raising Ceremony in Cobourg, events will centre on not just acknowledging this National Day, but will engage communities throughout the county on the actions that can move our communities closer together.
One of those actions is Cobourg Council’s decision to fly the “Every Child Matters” flag permanently at Rotary Habourfront Park as a tangible commitment to remembering the Indigenous lives that were tragically lost within the residential school system.
Also in Cobourg on Friday night, a special outdoor screening of “Bones of Crows” will take place beginning at 8 pm on Second Street.
In Port Hope, in partnership with Northumberland County, a free event will be taking place at the Cameco Capitol Theatre beginning at 4 pm. “Inspiring Change” will be an evening of education and culture hosted by Mayor Olena Hankivsky. The event will include a welcome from Alderville First Nation Chief Taynor Simpson followed by a live-guided virtual tour of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, with a focus on the Truth and Reconciliation exhibit.
We asked Mayor Hankivsky how this is different from previous years.
According to Mayor Hankivsky, she was inspired to bring the virtual tour to Port Hope based on a similar visit she had.
Following the tour, special guest Jeannette Corbiere Lavell will discuss losing her status under the Indian Act when she married a non-Indigenous man. Corbiere Lavell challenged the Indian Act at the Supreme Court of Canada and she’ll recount how her actions served as a catalyst for activism on the issue of gender discrimination against Indigenous women.
We spoke to Mayor Hankivsky about the importance of hearing stories like Corbiere Lavell’s.
Hankivsky told us she sees the evening as a learning opportunity.
We asked Mayor Hankivsky to share her thoughts on Northumberland Players current presentation of Cottagers and Indians that runs at the Firehall Theatre until October 1st.
For many people, Truth and Reconciliation will centre on Alderville First Nation and so, to ensure as many people as possible have the opportunity to participate in the day, a special shuttle service will be available in Cobourg on Saturday to convey residents to Alderville First Nation’s Truth and Reconciliation Ceremony on Saturday. If you’re interested in taking advantage of the free shuttle, which will pick-up at the downtown bus terminal and Northumberland Mall, your asked to reserve a seat on the Eventbright registation page: Alderville Shuttle Registration – September 30th, 2023 Tickets, Sat, 30 Sep 2023 at 9:00 AM | Eventbrite
To reserve a ticket to the free “Inspiring Change” event at the Cameco Capitol Theatre in Port Hope, please visit: Cameco Capitol Arts Centre – Inspiring Change (capitoltheatre.com)
At the “Inspiring Change” event in Port Hope, donations to Trent University’s First Peoples House of Learning are being encouraged to help local Indigenous students achieve their dreams of post secondary education.
Written by Joseph Goden
