‘Working through the process of grief together’: Hamiltonians gather for Day of Love

Members of Hamilton's Indigenous community hosted a Day of Love at Pier 4 on July 1.

Canada Day is a reminder of the colonial violence that Indigenous people have faced in order for this country to exist," said Jordan Carrier, one of the event's organizers, noting it was a chance to take that time to really remember all of the truths that have built this country, not just the good ones."

Many traditional Canada Day celebrations in communities were muted this year in light of the recent discoveries of unmarked graves at former residential schools for Indigenous children.

We are in a lot of pain and a lot of our traumas have been resurfaced because of this," Carrier said. We wanted to create a space for our community to come, our allies to come ... just being a community and working through the process of grief together."

There was a sacred fire, drumming and singing, and a banner to be painted in orange as a day of healing and remembrance for the victims of residential schools. The park was filled with people of all backgrounds in orange shirts as people came together for the event.

There's no agenda," Carrier said, just being here, us taking some time with the sacred fire, singing some songs."

John Rennison is a Hamilton-based photojournalist at The Spectator. Reach him via email: jrennison@thespec.com