Edmonton’s Churchill Square was alive with Aboriginal culture Sunday meant to offer healing following the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s report to the government of Canada.

Those from the culture said the event was an important one for the community.

“Just the trauma of being taken away from your community, from your family, from your culture, from your language, that is enough trauma enough to affect you for the rest of your life. If you don’t go on a path of healing then you pass that on to your children and your grandchildren,” Miranda Jimmy from RISE (Reconciliation in Solidarity Edmonton) said.

Jimmy’s organization has set up a heart garden, which has been made up of wooden hearts with messages and images of reconciliation.

“It is a statement that reconciliation happens by our decision makers and our governments changing the way that they do things, but also everyday citizens being involved on a grassroots level to commit to change in their own communities.”

For Rita Bratland being able to celebrate her Cree heritage has been a change for her as her mother preferred to hide her Aboriginal roots.

“That is the way they were in those days, I guess. They were made to hide their origins.”

She said the celebrations at Churchill Square were a sign of a societal shift.

“People want to learn about different cultures now. It is not like it used to be.”

According to the Government of Canada website the summer solstice was chosen as Aboriginal Day because “many Aboriginal peoples and communities have celebrated their culture and heritage on or near this day.”

It was first declared in1996 by then Governor-General Romeo LeBlanc.

Events in Edmonton included tours of Government House, with a focus on their Aboriginal Art collection as well as the celebrations in Sir Winston Churchill Square.

There will also be some events held next week including a tipi teachings session on Monday, a fiddle and guitar jamboree on Wednesday and an open house at the Edmonton Aboriginal Seniors Centre on Friday.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s summary report was presented to the federal government on June 3.

With files from Josh Skurnik