I like to keep things in order here, in telling you about what I get up to around the city, but I’m going to break with that today by writing about The Aboriginal Pavilion that is currently happening on the western part of Fort York. After going over and taking these pictures yesterday afternoon, I wanted to get this up quickly (before telling you about a fun holiday I’ve had and a great concert Nick and I went to) because there are only a couple more days for you to go see this before it ends on Sunday. And I encourage you to go because it is really worth seeing. If you have children, I think they will love it. The kids I saw there seemed to be having a great time. Oh, and admission is free!
In fact, there is still time for you to plan to go to the traditional Pow Wow that is taking place from noon to 6 tomorrow – Saturday, July 25. It will be open on Sunday from 10 to 7. This evening (Friday, July 24, there are concerts from 7 to 11, in addition to all kinds of other things going on all day.
Check out their site here, where the pavilion is described as a “19 day Indigenous arts, culture, and sports festival, held concurrent to the Toronto 2015 Pan Am / Parapan Am Games”.
(If you live east of Fort York, the entrance on Bathurst Street is open — it’s on the west side of Bathurst, just south of the big metal bridge that crosses the train-tracks. You’ll have to pass through the fort on your way to the grounds on the western side, but that in itself is pretty cool.)
The reason I didn’t go sooner, and therefore didn’t tell you about it earlier, was that I hadn’t heard anything about The Aboriginal Pavilion until I saw this story aired on the evening news on Tuesday. The gist of the segment was that one of the artisan vendors had gone over to Nathan Phillips Square, one of the official public spaces for the Panam Games that are currently taking place in Toronto, and set up a display table, that he was quickly ordered to take down. He wanted to get word out to the crowds that were gathering there everyday, that the pavilion was happening at the same time.
In essence, I wasn’t the only one who hadn’t heard about the this, as attendance has apparently been very sparse — so much so that this artisan felt the need to unofficially set up his tent like he did. It is unclear why word about it didn’t get out, but it is too bad that it didn’t, because having seen it myself, I can say that a lot of work and planning went into putting on this extensive and excellent event. It seems that the hard work to organize and execute it had been done but the step of publicizing the event had not adequately notified the public.
Anyway, it’s not over yet, and there are still time for you to go and enjoy a very friendly, enriching and interesting experience.
In an area called the Cultural Village, there were some traditional houses set up, and a guided tour …
While checking out a beautiful birch bark canoe, I was invited to learn how to finger weave. I loved it and look forward to doing more on own.
There was also a very nice shopping area …
↑ I bought a ring (shown below) in this booth. ↑
↑ Chef Charles Catchpole of CharGer Foods ↑
Being the lover of hot sauces that I am, I had to pick up a few kinds, after sampling the wide range of choices.
[Follow-up : These sauces were excellent. Highly recommended! I’m on the lookout for more.]
And here’s my new dyed-agate and silver ring …
If you’re in Toronto, I hope you’ll check out this fun event.
Thanks for dropping over. Wishing you a great weekend!
xo loulou
