Permanent sacred fire space coming to Victoria Park

A permanent sacred fire space will be located at the former Land Back Camp at Victoria Park after consultation with the City of Kitchener.

Amy Smoke, co-founder of the Land Back Camp, said plans for the ceremonial fire have been a long time in the making.

“When we began Land Back Camp in 2020, the conversations were starting to happen right away because it was one of the petitioned demands within the first month.” Smoke explained.

The Land Back Camp began in June of 2020 with the goal of creating a gathering space for Indigenous communities, and has held temporary spaces at parks throughout the Waterloo region.

Smoke stated that the goal of the program is to literally take back the land.

“It’s sort of a wonderful gesture then that the promises and conversations were made to build us a fire space, a permanent fire space in that park.” Smoke remarked.

Smoke added that there are conversations with the City of Kitchener and Indigenous groups to have permanent fire spaces in numerous local parks, including Huron National Area.

“I personally would love to see these sorts of gathering spaces in every park.”