Pelham Celebrates National Indigenous History Month with Community Events

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 16, 2026

Pelham, ON – The Town of Pelham invites residents to join in special events honouring National Indigenous History Month, with activities taking place on Thursday, June 18 and Friday, June 19, 2026. These gatherings recognize the rich cultures, histories, and resilience of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples and encourage reflection.

On Thursday, June 18, from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., in Peace Park, the return of the Pop-Up Indigenous Vendor Market will be part of Pelham’s popular Summer Chill concert series. Also, performing from 5:30 to 6:45 p.m. at the Pop-Up event is Keith Silver, a singer-songwriter from Six Nations of the Grand River, a member of the Oneida Bear Clan. 

Additional National Indigenous Peoples Day activities will take place on Friday, June 19, beginning with a flag-raising ceremony at 10:00 a.m. at Pelham Town Hall. Residents are invited to attend as the Town raises the Two Row Wampum flag, a powerful symbol of mutual respect and peaceful coexistence between Indigenous peoples and settlers, illustrating two parallel paths travelling together while maintaining distinct cultures and governance. Following the flag raising, a new mural, Spirits of the Carolinian, a work by self-taught Métis artist Deb Malcom, will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. at the Lincoln Pelham Public Library, Maple Acre Branch in Fenwick. Malcom is a Red River (Manitoba Métis Federation) citizen based in Crystal Beach.

“Indigenous partners have continued to share their knowledge and traditions with the Pelham community and are instrumental in ensuring there is an opportunity to foster continued learning, reflection, and connection. Speaking for myself, I really appreciate the generosity of spirit to teach, and I at least still have so much to learn,” said David Cribbs, Town of Pelham CAO.

Community members are encouraged to also visit the “Speaking the Inuit Way” exhibit at the Meridian Community Centre, on now until June 26. The free exhibit presents Inuit writing systems, dialect differences, and modern revitalization efforts, and illustrates how the language reflects both historical and contemporary Inuit culture and identity. In addition, local business Hamiltons of Pelham has coordinated an artwork display featuring Indigenous works in the atrium for the month of June. 

Pelham’s National Indigenous Peoples Day events, supported by the Canadian Heritage Celebrate Canada program grant, provides for meaningful ways for residents to learn, honour Indigenous heritage, and take steps along the path of reconciliation. 

For more information, please visit www.pelham.ca/june21.

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For media inquiries, please contact:

Leah Letford, Manager of Communications and Government Relations | 905-980-6653 | lletford@pelham.ca