Collingwood Poet Laureate Jillian Morris wrote and performed a spoken word piece on July 1, which reminded those listening that the day was one of remembrance for her and many others.
Morris is Kanien’kehá:ka, Turtle Clan and currently living in Collingwood. She read her poem entitled: With Respect first at the citizenship reaffirmation ceremony and later at the Awen Gathering Circle by request from others in a sharing circle.
The reaffirmation ceremony is part of Collingwood's yearly Canada Day activities and returned this year after a pandemic-related hiatus.
At the Awen Gathering Circle, space was made, through the Collingwood Indigenous Circle, for people to gather and be together on a difficult day. Smudging and a sharing circle took place.
This video includes Morris' spoken word performances at both the citizenship ceremony and the Awen gathering.
