National Aboriginal Day celebrates heritage and culture
Every year in June, one day is set aside to honour the heritage, contributions and culture of the First Nation, Inuit and Métis peoples in Canada. This year marks the 18th annual National Aboriginal Day celebration on June 21. First proclaimed in 1996, National Aboriginal Day kickstarts Celebrate Canada! - a series of celebrations that includes Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day (June 24), Canadian Multiculturalism Day (June 27) and concludes with Canada Day (July 1)!
This year, the celebrations in Saskatoon will take place in the Bessborough Gardens thanks to a partnership with the SaskTel Saskatchewan Jazz Festival. The event will be taking over the mainstage for the morning and afternoon.
The day starts with the colour and pageantry of the grand entry at 11 a.m., including veterans, elders and dignitaries such as Mayor Don Atchinson, Police Chief Clive Weighill, Fire Chief Dan Paulsen, various MLAs, members of parliament, Robert Ducette and First Nations chiefs.
Speeches by selected dignitaries will be followed by a free lunch in the park served by the Indian-Métis Friendship Centre.
“We’ll be providing soup and bannock for lunch and fruit and cake for dessert,” says Bill Mentram, executive director of the Saskatoon Indian-Métis Friendship Centre. “We’re expecting to be serving a couple thousand meals. It is something we do every year.”
Throughout the afternoon, attendees can enjoy amazing home grown entertainment such as Métis fiddle music, Métis jigging, hoop dancing, different forms of pow wow dance, and a drum group. Saskatchewan Métis singer, dancer and musician, Krystle Pederson, will perform several songs.
Special activities for kids include face painting. Volunteers from Saskatoon Community Youth Art Program (SCYAP) will provide face painting for children from noon until 2 p.m. In addition to the booths set up by community organizations, vendors will also be set up throughout the day to sell beadwork and crafts. You’ll find dream catchers, jewellery, and other hand-made items.
“It will be a wonderful afternoon of entertainment with food and fun for the family to come out,” Mentram explains.
Having this year’s event taking place on a weekend instead of a weekday has had little impact on the number of organizations involved.
“It has been many years since we’ve had it on a Saturday. In doing that planning I was actually pleasantly surprised to have a lot of community groups supporting the event and still offering to come out and volunteer,” comments Mentram.
Members of Quint, the Saskatoon Police Service and Saskatoon Fire and Protective Services are among many community groups and organizations that will be volunteering their time to make this event a special festival honouring Saskatchewan’s aboriginal people.
Being on a weekend may also boost attendance for the festivities. While some organizations give their employees a day off for National Aboriginal Day, others do not. For those who would normally have to work on this special day, it’s an opportunity to gather together to connect and celebrate.
National Aboriginal Day is a favourite summer festival for families to honour the traditions of aboriginal peoples in Canada. It celebrates the diversity and beauty of the cultural mosaic that make up this great nation.
“It’s a chance to spend time celebrating as a community which bring together community and bring a stronger sense of that social solidarity of who we are as a community … (not only) as an aboriginal community, but also as a whole Saskatoon community, and that aspect of cultural diversity within our community,” says Mentram.