Drumming, dancing and cultural celebration took centre stage in Scarborough as the fifth annual Two-Spirit Powwow brought the community together. The free, family-friendly gathering was hosted by the Second Spirited People, a First Nations group, and welcomed a broad mix of attendees to a day rooted in Indigenous tradition and open to all.
The event brought together both Indigenous and non-Indigenous community members to celebrate two-spirited identities. It created a space where people from many different nations could gather and take part side by side, sharing in a celebration that placed two-spirited people and their cultures at its very heart.
The powwow featured traditional dance, music and ceremonies, alongside several vendors set up throughout the grounds. Those elements gave the day both a festive and a deeply cultural character, grounded in long-standing practices that the gathering was designed to honour and to pass on to younger generations.
Organizers said the event is a great way to build community, and they were pleased with how it unfolded. A lot of people showed up, they noted, with attendees coming from all different nations to gather, to vend and, in their words, to start off the month in a good way alongside one another.
The gathering also opened room for connection and for commerce. Organizers highlighted the many artisans, crafters and dancers taking part, explaining that the event lets small Indigenous businesses connect with people and showcase the things they make, while allowing the community to see its singers, dancers, elders and little ones together.
The powwow carried a symbolic weight in the calendar as well, kicking off both Pride and National Indigenous History Month. It ran from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Millikan District Park in Scarborough, closing out what organizers described as a wonderful day that allowed people to engage with one another in community.