The Summer Solstice

By Sarah Kornelson

June is a month of celebration for both the human and non-human world. The new moon signals a time when the long rains come, and these rains will lead to growth and transformation. Green grass carpets the ground, animal mothers welcome their young, scented blossoms invite pollinating friends, and water sparkles under rays of light. Mother Earth is waking up and summer is near! Soon, Grandfather Sun will reach his most northerly point in our sky, shining from above the horizon for longer than any other day of the year. We call this the Summer Solstice.

In Indigenous communities, the solstice brings ceremonies and indicates a time for renewal and connection. These ceremonies are deeply connected to the land and spirituality. It is also National Indigenous Peoples Day - a day that celebrates the diverse cultures, histories, languages, and contributions of First Nations, Inuit, and Metis people in what we now call Canada. It is an opportunity for everyone (Indigenous and non-Indigenous) to come together to acknowledge and experience Indigenous identity and ways of knowing and being.

When the sun rises on the morning of the solstice, I will look to the East and feel gratitude for all the gifts that summer brings. I will also think of the little humans who I’ve been fortunate to teach and learn from, who come from Indigenous cultures that enrich our community with their stories, their traditions, and their strength. As someone who walks through the world as a non-Indigenous person, I have come to understand life more completely because of the traditional teachings that have been so generously shared with me by students, families, Knowledge Keepers, and Elders. I believe the Summer Solstice is a day of reawakening for all of us. How will you celebrate?

Wildflowers grown by students at Niitsitapi Learning Centre. Photo: Sarah Kornelson.

Wolf willow (misisaimi’soyiis) Photo: Sarah Kornelson