A Day to Celebrate Cultural Diversity for HIP, HOP and HEP

Moose Jaw Families for Change held an Aboriginal Day at Diversified Services at the beginning of August for their tenants that live at their three housing facilities–HIP, HOP and HEP, acronyms for Helping Important People, Helping Opportunities for People and Helping Empower People. The afternoon outing consisted of making a craft which was a ‘dream-catcher’, a snack of bannock and jam, and a dance performed by Kayleigh Olson, dancing to the beat of Jeff Cappo drumming. The dance performed was a Butterfly Dance and Olson says that the movements are like the freedom of the butterfly. Cappo says, “The drum beat is the heart beat of ourselves. we tell a story as a dancer and a drummer. I share my story and the ‘connectedness’ to Mother Nature, while the dancer feels the music and moves to the drum beat.” This was part of their summer programming to fill their resident’s days with other than the usual things.