IPSG and the Summer Solstice

Rev. Brigid Maya Douglas adds a prayer flag in the Noojimi'iwewin Gitigaan Garden.

June 21 was a busy day for IPSG members, with participation by some in the City of Toronto Sunrise Ceremony led by Grandmother Kim Wheatley, some in the Na-Me-Res Pow Wow, and others in evening concerts such as Snotty Nose Rez Kids at Fort York and Jeremy Dutcher at Roy Thompson Hall.

Elder Catherine danced all day at the Pow Wow and stayed for the music to follow yet still had the spirit to lead us the next day, sharing Teachings about Strawberry—Ode’min the Heart-Berry--our Bird relatives Seagull and Blue Jay and the Eighth Fire Prophecy. We put our Tobacco into the Sacred Fire with our prayers and tied new Prayer Flags honouring the Peoples of the Four Directions and the community we make together into the Right Relations Food & Medicine Garden. The love we brought to this place will continue to imbue all we harvest—small though our harvest is—for Wychwood Open Door’s kitchen.