Loyalist College celebrates Indigenous History Month with first annual Summer Solstice event

Loyalist College invites community members to experience the rich cultural traditions of the Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabe Peoples at its first annual Summer Solstice Celebration this Saturday, June 22, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. This public celebration is part of a series of events hosted by the college’s Tsi Titewaya’taró:roks Indigenous Centre team in recognition of National Indigenous History Month.

Held at the college’s Belleville campus, the Summer Solstice Celebration will feature a variety of activities, including smudging, lacrosse, drumming, powwow dancing, and the telling of the Haudenosaunee creation story. Attendees will also enjoy lunch, explore vendors, and meet members of neighbouring Indigenous communities.

Tewathahá:kwa Jennifer Maracle, Executive Director, Indigenous Initiatives and Reconciliation, views the college’s Indigenous History Month events as another important step in the process of decolonizing and Indigenizing the college.

“Indigenizing Loyalist College goes beyond student and employee education programming; it also encompasses celebration, cultural exchange, and relationship building,” says Tewathahá:kwa. “As we come together to honour the rich cultural traditions of our region, we hope to create meaningful opportunities for understanding and connection between our local Indigenous and non-Indigenous community members.”

Last week, the college kicked off its Indigenous History Month celebrations with a fish fry on campus. Attendees enjoyed speared walleye, coleslaw and corn muffins prepared by Culinary Management graduate Chavis Maracle. As guests ate, Chavis shared his experiences with spearfishing and the practices his family uses to replenish the fish population. “When we fish, we make sure that we never take more than we need, and we try to put back as much as we take,” he explained.

Later in the month, Tsi Titewaya’taró:roks will also host the college community for a Strawberry Social, where participants will learn about the significance of the strawberry as the first fruit of the summer for the nations of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy.

Over the last year, Loyalist’s Tsi Titewaya’taró:roks Indigenous Centre has helped the college take significant strides toward advancing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action. In January, the college launched the 4 Seasons of Reconciliation employee education program to provide college staff with foundational insights into the history of colonization and the evolving relationship between Canada and Indigenous Peoples. Tsi Titewaya’taró:roks also regularly hosts events, ceremonies and training to support a more inclusive and culturally aware learning environment.

“Loyalist College is deeply committed to engaging with and learning from our Indigenous community members,” says Loyalist College President and CEO Mark Kirkpatrick. “As we celebrate Indigenous History Month, we are reminded of our responsibility to educate ourselves and honour Indigenous histories and cultures. We’re grateful for the leadership of our Tsi Titewaya’taró:roks team in creating essential opportunities for us to come together in celebration, understanding and mutual respect. We look forward to welcoming our extended community on campus this month to honour the summer solstice.”

About Loyalist College 
Loyalist College is built upon the lands governed by the Dish with One Spoon wampum agreement. We affirm and thank the Haudenosaunee, Anishinaabeg and Huron-Wendat nations for their continued caretaking of the land. At Loyalist, we empower our students with wraparound support services and hands-on training to succeed on any path they choose. Our academic programs are responsive and innovative, designed to solve pressing social and economic challenges and meet the evolving needs of our regional industry and community partners. Our graduates enter the workforce equipped with the knowledge they need to be better global citizens, and with future-focused skills to lead change in their fields. With a presence in Belleville, Bancroft, Port Hope, Tyendinaga and Toronto, we believe our institutional responsibility extends beyond the classroom to seeing the big picture for the communities we serve. Our expertise in applied research and deep connections to local industry support economic development, to the benefit of businesses, entrepreneurs, changemakers and innovators. Our commitment to decolonization, and the pursuit of a more inclusive, equitable world, means we hold ourselves accountable to the diverse perspectives, cultures and experiences that shape our communities. 

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Contact: 
Hannah Brown
Director of Marketing and Communications
hbrown@loyalistcollege.com