With excerpts from: https://news.ontario.ca/maa/en/2016/05/celebrate-national-aboriginal-history-month-this-june.html
2014 MNO Canoe Expedition participant Amilia DiChiara
(left) and MNO Education Officer Alicia Blore stand in front
of the Tree of Reconciliation in the foyer of the Macdonald
building. Click here to view a larger version.
On June 1, 2016, Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO) Education Officer Alicia Blore and 2014 MNO Canoe Expedition participant Amilia DiChiara participated at an event in downtown Toronto to celebrate the beginning of National Aboriginal History Month. Blore and DiChiara were among the Indigenous performers that entertained guests at this special event. They proudly demonstrated Métis culture in their performance where Blore fiddled while DiChiara performed a Métis jig.
Special guests at the event included David Zimmer, Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation and Deborah Richardson, Deputy Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation. Minister Zimmer stated that he is “excited to once again take part in National Aboriginal History Month celebrations. This month I hope we can continue to learn from our past and reflect on the next chapter of Canadian history – one that should be defined by reconciliation with Indigenous people.”
Declared in 2009, National Aboriginal History Month is a time to acknowledge the role Indigenous peoples played in the development of Canada, to honour Indigenous heritage and to celebrate Indigenous cultures. It is also an opportunity to reflect on the strength of present day First Nation, Métis and Inuit communities, and their hopes for the future.
Published on: June 17, 2016