Summer Solstice and National Indigenous People’s Day Celebration

Date: Thursday, June 20, 2024–Friday, June 21, 2024
Price: FREE
Due to limited seating in the Nanji Family Foundation Auditorium, registration is required for the evening performance.
Reserve free tickets to the evening performance

Original ways of knowing, being, and relating.

Join the Aga Khan Museum and Toronto Council Fire Native Cultural Centre to celebrate the Summer Solstice and National Indigenous People’s Day.

The summer solstice marks the longest day of the year, symbolizing a new season and rejuvenation. We give thanks through ceremonies, a sacred fire, and programming available to schools and the local community. Watch the Aga Khan Museum transform into a cultural village, featuring colourful Tipis, arts and crafts, teachings, drumming, traditional and contemporary dance, and a concert.

All events and activities are available for free to the public.

The Museum’s Performing Arts programming is generously supported by the Nanji Family Foundation.

Daytime Programming

Outdoor Village in the Aga Khan Park | Thursday, June 20 & Friday, June 21 | 10 am–4 pm

Tipi Activities

• Beading
• Orange Shirt Activity
• Tipi-Making Arts and Crafts
• Medicine Wheel Activity
• Teachings

Revillagizing Stage Performances

• Teachings and Flute Playing
• Aztec Dancers
• All Nations Jrs.
• First Fire Dance Troupe
• Talent Show

Evening Performances

Nanji Family Foundation Auditorium | Thursday, June 20 | 7–9 pm

• All Nations Jrs. and First Fire Dance Troupe
• James Wilson
• Semiah Smith

Due to limited seating, registration is required for the evening performance.
Reserve free tickets

Full Moon Ceremony

Aga Khan Park | Friday, June 21 | Timing is weather dependent

Participate in a Full Moon Ceremony to honour Grandmother Moon in the Aga Khan Park. 

#hopeandhealingcanada by Tracey-Mae Chambers

Art Installation | Aga Khan Park

Reflect on a journey of self-discovery and cultural reclamation woven through a transformative installation by artist Tracey-Mae Chambers.

Immerse yourself in a captivating installation that maps questions of identity while sparking dialogue on displacement, decolonization, and reconciliation. Located in the Aga Khan Park, #hopeandhealingcanada is an invitation to venture along pathways of understanding between Indigenous and settler communities. The knit and crochet-work installation is part of a series of site-specific works spanning over 100 public institutions, including historic residential school sites, museums, and galleries.

Learn more about the installation

All Nations Juniors

Noong Ednaakiijig Eshniigjig Medwegaagejig

Gwaandaak Eshniigjig aanke Mewiidoonaa Anishnaabe Zhegaawin Medwegaageyaad. Ene-she bigwad, miigeynwaa maagweyaad niiyaap eshi ngoodoweanngesewad minwaa ednaakiiwad. Wii-aanke miidowad maandaa Medwegegaan, ekwaa Zhansweboongad gii-maachtaawok, Bezhik ataam, gemaachpiich giimaanjiinok, noong benjijibayad, Cree, Dakota, Ojibwe, Chippewa, Haudenosaunee, Naangwadnoong gegwa Anishnaabe iiyowsek wiidbaabook geynoowaa. Nsaadwenaachgaasowak, ezhi gichipiitendaagosiiyad. Giiyaabe gwaa naangwaa Negaamook Medwegaagewod, egwendaa genaan gwaa wiinoondaagwad.

Ntaam Mskode Niimwin

Ntaam Mskode Niimwin kinoomachigaaswok Eshkiniijek Niizhwaaswe Piinish Mdaaswe shin Nswaaswe ensaaboongisjig. Maandaa wewene gekenchigaadek, Niiwing shenaagwad Niimedwin eckinoomaachigaaswad Skeniimwin, Biikskaa Niimwin, Baabgwaashning Niimwin, Minwaa, Kete Onaak Niimwin Kina Kinoomaadwin wii miisek.

Mshkiki Detebesen minwaa wiinaadmaagwad wewene wiibemaadsiiwad, minwaa wiiaankiienmowad ensaagizhigak.

Giiyaabe Ntaam Niimjik daankiitanaa-aa wiinaakiitwaa-aad bebebkaan bemaadsinjin maampii Regent Park minwaa Cabbage town ednaakijik.

All Nations Juniors

Founded in 2012, All Nations Juniors is a youth drum group based in Tkaronto, performing a blend of traditional and contemporary styles. The group emerged out of Toronto Council Fire’s Little Embers Youth program, comprised of youth from many different Nations including Dakota, Anishinaabe, Chippewa, Cree, and Haudenosaunee, as well as invited non-Indigenous — thus, All Nations. As the original All Nations drum group transitioned into adulthood, the All Nations Juniors continued the powerful legacy of Toronto Council Fire’s drum. The group has composed many songs, like the Cree/Ojibway song, “Everyone Welcome,” which honours all people across Turtle Island.

James Wilson

James N. Wilson is a Mohawk and French-Canadian Singer-Songwriter Musician from Six Nations of The Grand River. He has performed his music all around North America and Turtle Island sharing the stage with many artists such as Derek Miller, Logan Staats, DJ Shub, and many more. His original music has been compared to artists such as Dave Matthews, Shawn Mendes, and Coldplay. In December of 2019, his song “City Lights” hit #1 on the IMC Indigenous Music Countdown. He is set to release his second album "Alive" in 2024.

Semiah Smith

Semiah, the trailblazing Kanien’kehà:ka (Mohawk) pop electro-RnB songwriter, producer, and multidisciplinary artist effortlessly traverses a spectrum of emotions through her versatile writing style. Semiah provides the perfect soundtrack for every moment in your life, whether you're in the mood to dance, have a good cry, or simply vibe with the universe. Semiah’s unique sound pays homage to her traditional Haudenosaunee heritage, defying genres by combining RnB, Electronic, Hip-Hop, Indigenous Vocal Techniques, Post-Punk, and Dreampop. Semiah is inspired by the lyricism of Frank Ocean and Rage Against the Machine, and the vocal stylings of Summer Walker and Willow, all with the sun-drenched liquid-light sounds of Tame Impala and MGMT.