Summer Solstice Celebration: Virtual School Program
Original ways of being, knowing, and relating
Friday, June 20, 2025
11 am–1 pm
Aga Khan Museum
Format: Virtual/Livestream
Price: FREE
Please use the links below to register. For questions, please contact learn@agakhanmuseum.org.
Join the Aga Khan Museum and Toronto Council Fire Native Cultural Centre in celebrating the Summer Solstice ahead of National Indigenous Peoples’ Day. The Summer Solstice is a significant day for the Original Peoples of Turtle Island. It marks the day Elder Brother/Grandfather Sun radiate the longest in a year, symbolizing renewed hope and spiritual growth. The Aga Khan Museum, the first of its kind on Turtle Island, seeks to foster knowledge and understanding between diverse cultures around the world. The Museum was created through a notion of Light, inspiring pluralism among society, and serving as an ideal space for our celebration.
This program offers students an immersive experience to learn about Indigenous cultures through storytelling and the arts. Led by Indigenous artists, Knowledge Keepers, and cultural educators, students will engage in meaningful learning about the histories, teachings, and contemporary expressions of Indigenous Peoples across Turtle Island. The program encourages critical reflection on the importance of cultural understanding, respect, and reconciliation in shaping a more inclusive future.
Registration
Learning Outcomes
By participating in this program, students will:
- Develop an understanding of the cultural significance of the Summer Solstice within Indigenous communities in Ontario, recognizing it as a time of renewal, gratitude, and connection to the land and ancestors.
- Gain knowledge of the histories, traditions, and contemporary realities of Indigenous Peoples through direct engagement with Knowledge Keepers, artists, and facilitators.
- Explore the importance of oral storytelling, music, drumming, and dance in preserving and sharing Indigenous knowledge and cultural identity.
- Reflect on the concepts of community, reciprocity, and interconnectedness as they relate to Indigenous worldviews and teachings.
- Examine the significance of the Two Row Wampum Belt and its teachings of peace, partnership, and mutual respect in the context of treaty relationships and shared responsibilities.
- Build empathy and cultural awareness by considering the lasting impacts of colonization and the importance of Indigenous resilience and cultural preservation.
- Strengthen their understanding of environmental stewardship by learning from Indigenous perspectives on sustainability, land, and the interconnectedness of all living beings.
- Enhance critical thinking and communication skills by asking questions, engaging in dialogue, and making personal connections to the themes explored in the program.
- Reflect on their role as allies and active participants in reconciliation, recognizing how small actions can contribute to building a more equitable and respectful society.
Curriculum Connections
Bios
Kevin Myran
Andy Thomas
Lindsay (Swooping Hawk) Kretschmer
Buffalo Charging
About the Partnership
This program is a partnership between the Aga Khan Museum and the Toronto Council Fire Native Cultural Centre. Together, we are committed to creating meaningful educational opportunities that foster cultural understanding, promote reconciliation, and amplify Indigenous voices through the arts.
About the Toronto Council Fire Native Cultural Centre
Toronto Council Fire is an Indigenous cultural agency dedicated to serving the Indigenous community in Toronto. It offers programs and services that promote cultural identity, empowerment, and well-being, with a focus on supporting Indigenous youth, families, and community members through cultural, educational, and social programming.
This project has been made possible [in part] by the Government of Canada.
Ce projet a été rendu possible [en partie] grâce au gouvernement du Canada.
