Five highlights of the Summer Solstice Indigenous Festival
Celebrate Indigenous culture and heritage June 1 to 21

Join us for the 2021 Ottawa Summer Solstice Indigenous Festival taking place June 1 to 21.
This year's lineup is packed with virtual and COVID-friendly activities to help you connect with Indigenous cultures and community. From educational workshops, to cooking classes and concerts, there is something for everyone.
CBC Ottawa is proud to partner with the Summer Solstice Indigenous Festival.
Here are five highlights you won't want to miss:
Canada Goose Paint Night | June 3 from 7 to 8 p.m.
Join Algonquin artist Simon Brascoupé as he leads an online painting class. Learn how to paint a Canadian Goose using acrylic paints on canvas as Simon also shares traditional stories about the iconic bird.
Click here for more information.
Simon is also featured in our Ontario-wide National Indigenous History Month Illustrations Project. Click here to meet seven artists from across the province who are showcasing their interpretation of community, National Indigenous History Month and National Indigenous Peoples Day through their illustrations.
Social Distance Powwow | June 14 to 20
You can watch the vibrancy and energy of the Competition Powwow featuring singers and dancers from across North America. The festival has partnered with Social Distance Powwow on Facebook to bring this very special competition online.
Click here for more information about this event.
Festival Celebration and Drive-In Movies | June 15 from 7 to 11 p.m.
Gather the family and head to Wesley Clover Parks for this free event. Watch the Indigeneous movie Kayak to Klemtu along with two family-friendly shorts.
Click here for more details.
Paddle Painting Workshop | June 19 from 11 a.m. to noon
Local artist Claire Brascoupé will walk participants through the Algonquin story of the first paddle in this art workshop. Learn different techniques to paint a pine paddle featuring Algonquin medicinal plants.
Click here for details on how to register.
Culinary workshop with Chef Justine Deschenes | June 21 from 6 to 7 p.m.
Join Chef Justine Deschenes, a runner-up in the 2019 Summer Solstice Festival's IndigiChef competition, for an evening of cooking. Participants will learn how to create flour tortillas and delicious fish tacos made with fresh Ontario walleye sourced from an Indigenous supplier, paired with a hominy corn salsa.
Click here for more details on how to register.