Closure Notice: July 1st & 2nd
Scarborough Arts will be closed for the dates of July 1st and 2nd for a period of collective rest and renewal. As an arts organization on Indigenous Land, we as a team are opting out of programming and celebrations for what is known as “Canada Day” indefinitely in a stand of solidarity with all Indigenous people.
The land in which Scarborough Arts is located has been the home of Indigenous people and Nations long before colonial documentation of time and is specifically the land of the Huron-Wendat, Anishnabek, Mississaugas of the Credit, and the Haudenosaunee. The territory of what is known today as Toronto is under the One Dish, One Spoon Wampum belt, a peace treaty between the Haudenosaunee and the Anishinaabek, and is a mutual agreement between nations for sharing land and resources.
For Indigenous people in what is referred to as Canada, July 1 represents a wrongful celebration of the ongoing colonization, genocide, and oppression of Indigenous peoples. Given the tragic recent discoveries of Indigenous children across the country buried on sites of former Residential Schools and the ongoing cases of Missing and Murdered Indigenous women, girls, Two-Spirit, trans, and gender non-conforming people, rather than commemorate “Canada” we challenge it.
Our team at Scarborough Arts is taking this July 1 to dwell on the history of the land known as Canada, advocate for, and listen to the needs of Indigenous peoples today as they continue to face injustice and oppression. Amidst tomorrow’s “celebration,” we encourage you to stand in solidarity and do the same.
Listed below are a list of resources for Indigenous people, as well as resources for
non-indigenous folks to learn more and support Indigenous people.
HELPLINES
Indian Residential Schools Survivor Society (IRSSS) Toll-Free Line: 1-800-721-0066
National Indian Residential School Crisis Line: 1-866-925-4419
The First Nations and Inuit Hope for Wellness Help Line: 1 855 242-3310 or online (http://hopeforwellness.ca)
SCARBOROUGH & GTA SPECIFIC RESOURCES
Aboriginal Housing Support Centre (http://aboriginalhsc.org/)
Aboriginal Legal Services (http://www.aboriginallegal.ca/gta-aboriginal-organizations.html)
2-Spirited People of 1st Nations (http://www.2spirits.com)
Miziwe Biik Aboriginal Employment and Training (http://www.miziwebiik.com)
Native Child and Family Services of Toronto (http://nativechild.org)
Ontario Aboriginal HIV/AIDS Strategy (https://www.oahas.org/)
RESOURCES
Walking With Our Sisters (http://walkingwithoursisters.ca/)
No More Stolen Sisters (https://www.amnesty.ca/our-work/campaigns/no-more-stolen-sisters)
LEARN
Read the TRC's 94 recommendations (http://www.trc.ca/about-us/trc-findings.html)
Volume 4: Missing Children and Unmarked Burials (http://www.trc.ca/assets/pdf/Volume_4_Missing_Children_English_Web.pdf)
Follow Indigenous Journalists, a great Twitter thread here: (https://twitter.com/AngelaSterritt/status/1397786805416595457
DONATE + TAKE ACTION
Indian Residential School Survivors Society (https://www.irsss.ca/donate)
The Institute for Culturally Restorative Practices for cultural competency, restorative practices, and Indigenous people and youth support training (https://www.culturallyrestorativepractices.ca/)
ENAGB youth program (https://enagb-iya.ca/)
No More Stolen Sisters (https://www.amnesty.ca/our-work/campaigns/no-more-stolen-sisters)
Orange Shirt Day (https://www.orangeshirtday.org/donations.html)
Walking With Our Sisters (http://walkingwithoursisters.ca/)
THE ARTS
Association for Native Development in the Performing and Visual Arts (ANDPVA) (https://andpva.myshopify.com/)
ImagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival (https://imaginenative.org/)
Native Earth Performing Arts (https://www.nativeearth.ca/)
Native Women in the Arts (http://www.nwia.ca/)
SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESS
Contrary Company Inc (https://www.contraryco.shop/), Anishinaabe, Metis, and Queer Owned"Art Meets Wear" Shop
Adele Arsenau (http:// https://aarseneau.com/) , Storytelling Visual Artist
Silver Moccasin (https://silvermoccasin.com/about-us/) , Indigenous owned and operated business
Tea Horse (https://www.teahorse.ca/), Tea and Herbal Infusions