Mandela Freedom Walk To Pay Tribute To Canada’s Indigenous People

By Neil Armstrong
PRIDE Contributing Writer

TORONTO, Ontario — To honour National Aboriginal Day, June 21, the upcoming Spirit of Mandela Freedom Walk will end with a concert in tribute to the First Peoples of Canada.
The concert will open with an aboriginal blessing and the program will include Digging Roots, a recognized aboriginal group, well known across Canada and winner of a JUNO award in 2010 for Best Aboriginal Album.
The walk, an initiative of the Mandela Legacy Committee-Canada which includes diverse organizations, will be held on June 20 along Nelson Mandela Boulevard and culminate on the grounds of Queen’s Park – home of the Ontario Legislature.
It coincides with the anniversary of Nelson Mandela’s first visit to Canada and marks the 25th anniversary of that occasion.
The official unveiling of University Avenue, from Front Street to Queen’s Park, as the ceremonial Nelson Mandela Boulevard, was held on May 4.
Asked whether the committee had examined the Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission on the residential school system in Canada, described as a cultural genocide by the commissioners, which was released last week, Lloyd McKell, chair of the Mandela Legacy Committee-Canada, said it has not sat down to consider the report.
“But right from the get go, when we considered and came up with the idea of a freedom walk to express our commitment to a society free from all forms of discrimination and social justice for all, it was clear that, what that in fact means for us, is that we had to include that focus and concern for the situation affecting the First Peoples of Canada. Because we cannot talk about an inclusive society here without addressing that situation,” he said.
This is why, from the beginning, the committee included a representative of the First Nations community as one of its three honorary co-chairs — Jonathan Hamilton-Diabo, director of First Nations House, University of Toronto.
The other co-chairs are Jean Augustine, former Ontario Fairness Commissioner and David Onley, former Lieutenant Governor of Ontario.

Lloyd McKell

“Of course, when you put all that together in the context of Nelson Mandela’s own recognition that there was a point of similarity between the black people who suffered under apartheid in South Africa and the native peoples everywhere, including in Canada, we see that again that’s a natural connection in the Spirit of Mandela Freedom Walk,” McKell said.
The other performers at the concert include: Amanda Martinez, a Hispanic Canadian singer-songwriter of South African parentage and someone who has identified with the anti-apartheid cause; Najjah Calibur, an upcoming Hip Hop artist in Toronto; and poet/social entrepreneur, Dwayne Morgan.
The committee is hoping to get Lorraine Klaasen, eclectic South African singer who lives in Montreal. The emcee will be Farley Flex, music promoter/artist manager.
McKell said they are expecting Premier Kathleen Wynne to be there and have not yet confirmed Mayor John Tory’s attendance.
There will be remarks from South Africa’s High Commissioner to Canada, Membathisi Mdladlana; social justice activist and professor at Ryerson University, Akua Benjamin; and Onley, who will speak on behalf of the honorary co-chairs.
Students of the Nelson Mandela Park Public School will lead the walk, which starts at noon after people begin gathering at 11am. McKell said they hope to involve students from other schools as well.
“This is not so much as a tribute to Mandela, although he is the source of inspiration. This is really about us here in Canada and about our own commitment, as diverse peoples, to express our commitment to a society that respects human rights for all, that is free of all forms of discrimination. So, it’s about us and our commitment and that involves, substantially, how we engage our young people who will be the decision makers and leaders of tomorrow.”
The Mandela Legacy Committee is a not-for-profit community organization formed following Mandela’s death in December 2013 at the age of 95.
The mission of the committee is to promote the legacy of Nelson Mandela in Canada by initiating and supporting activities in Canada, which preserve the memory of Mandela’s life and achievements in bringing freedom and democracy to South Africa.
The committee will also work with groups and institutions to promote in Canada, Mandela’s vision of an inclusive society committed to social justice and human rights for all.
Its membership is made up of individuals and representatives from various organizations wishing to contribute to the work and mission of the committee. The MLC invites membership from individuals and groups from across Canada.