Families in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, can celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day early by heading to the Margaret Hennigar Public Library on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, for a hands-on bookmark workshop using the Medicine Wheel colours. The drop-in event starts at 3:30 p.m. and is open to children aged 6 and older with their families.
National Indigenous Peoples Day falls on June 21 each year, and 2026 marks its 30th anniversary. The library’s event comes four days before the official day, giving families a chance to take part before the weekend. Participants will make bookmarks using the Medicine Wheel colours and can browse books by Indigenous authors available at the library.
The Medicine Wheel represents the Four Directions, seasons, stages of life, and elements, and holds deep meaning in many Indigenous cultures. The workshop uses these colours to teach about balance and connection in a creative way. The library has also highlighted books by Indigenous authors for families to discover during the event.
South Shore Public Libraries, which runs the Margaret Hennigar branch, states on its website that it is located in Mi’kma’ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq People, and that “we are all Treaty People and strive toward the goals of Truth and Reconciliation.” The library system has been offering Indigenous programming, including a National Indigenous History Month event earlier in June with artist Sheila Porter from Bear River First Nation.
Bridgewater sits in Mi’kma’ki, where the Mi’kmaq have lived for thousands of years. The town, with a population of 8,790, is the largest in Nova Scotia’s South Shore region. The Margaret Hennigar Public Library is located at 135 North Park Street inside the Lunenburg County Lifestyle Centre.
