"Six Nations celebrates historic ties to "Crown" with Victoria Day Bread and Cheese celebration"

By Donna Duric, Writer

This year's Bread and Cheese Day celebrations saw some of the largest crowds ever, with thousands of people packing the Gaylord Powless Arena on Monday to receive their annual helping of fresh bakery bread and zesty chunks of cheddar cheese.

Like a well-oiled machine, about 80 community volunteers handed out around $25,000 worth of bread and cheese (2,500 loaves of bread and 3,000 pounds of cheese) Monday.

Six Nations Elected Chief Ava Hill said it was one of the largest Bread and Cheese Day crowds she had ever seen.

"It's the biggest we've ever seen it."

The annual event stems from the tradition of Queen Victoria giving gifts to the Six Nations community for their allegiance to the British Crown during the American Revolution and War of 1812.

"It's significant in that our relationship is still with the Crown," said Hill. "It's a gift from the Crown and we continue to celebrate it every year."

Thousands came from near and far, with some Six Nations members even trekking up from New York State, Quebec, Northern Ontario and surrounding towns of Brantford, Hagersville, Caledonia and Hamilton,

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the community event has begun rival a tourist attraction.

"It's a time for them to reacquaint with old family and friends and make new friends," said Hill, who's been volunteering at the event for over 10 years. "It's a good day because everyone comes together as one community and that's the message I want to get out there. We're all one community and we all want the same things."

The whole process of handing out bread and cheese took about one hour, starting at noon, after a parade led by Six Nations veterans first wound its way through the heart of the community, down Fourth Line, and into the arena parking lot, showcasing floats from various community groups and organizations.

Six Nations Councillor Bob Johnson, who was at the arena at 7:30 a.m. on Monday to start cutting the bread and cheese, said this year's event couldn't have gone better.

"This is terrific," he said as throngs of people sauntered through the arena, chunks of bread and cheese in hand. "I'm more than pleased to be part of this day. It's one great day, a sunny day, a celebration in itself."

An outdoor midway that accompanied Bread and Cheese Day celebrations was packed.

Johnson, a Vietnam War veteran, said the day is an important reminder to the Crown about Six Nations' allied relationship with the Crown, during both wartime and peacetime.

"It's our association with the Crown and always will be," said Johnson. "We were allies, not subjects, but allies and that's really important to remind people and the Crown."

There were no complaints about the quality of the bread and cheese this year, after council undertook a special taste-testing session weeks in advance of the day to choose the companies to supply the bread and cheese. Last year, there were complaints of under-cooked bread.

"This year, it's great," said Johnson.

Six Nations Fire Chief Mike Seth, who attended with his family, said the day was "excellent" but, ironically, he said the weather was "too hot."

He said his favourite part of Bread and Cheese every year is seeing old friends and community members.

The funds for the event came out of Six Nations' roughly $2 million Ottawa Trust Fund.