Celebrating Indigenous History Month at Christ Church Bells Corners

Christ Church Bells Corners hosted a community event to mark Indigenous History Month on June 13.

The day began with Elder Larry Langlois offering a smudge and prayers outside the church.

Then everyone moved into the parish hall where Belle Bailey and Charmaine Leonard, who came to the event from Mādahòkì Farm, demonstrated two beautiful traditional dances. Bailey performed a Fancy Shawl Dance, and Leonard performed a Jingle Dress Dance. Afterward, they spoke and offered some insights from their Indigenous cultures and advice on how non-Indigenous people can learn more and work to contribute to reconciliation.

Everyone attending was invited to participate in a collaborative art project, adding their own designs to rocks that had been painted red, white, yellow and black. Then all the rocks were carried out into the parish garden to be arranged into the four quadrants of a medicine wheel, an important symbol in many First Nations cultures, which represents the interconnectedness of all life, the cycles of nature, and a path to personal balance.

The parish offered bannock with strawberry jam and strawberry water as refreshments for all.

Charmaine Leonard demonstrates a Jingle Dress dance. Photo: Marnie Crossley

Elders Margaret Lemaire and Larry Langlois enjoy the festivities in the parish hall. Photo: LA Williams

Archdeacon Monique Stone welcomes City Councillor Laine Johnson.

Refreshing strawberry water Photo: LA Williams

One of the many painted rocks used in the collaborative art project.

One of the children attending the event painted this design on a red rock.

Painted rocks used in the collaborative art project.

The red, white, yellow and black stones outiine a medicine wheel design.

Participants work together to arrange the painted rocks into a medicine wheel design. Photo: LA Williams