Indigenous culture celebrated despite COVID-19
Niagara’s Indigenous organizations have come up with a creative way to celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day this weekend.
While the Niagara Regional Native Centre and Fort Erie Native Friendship Centre would normally welcome large gatherings of people from the community, for ceremonies and social events, that couldn’t be safely done this year due to government restrictions to help prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
Instead, event organizers have opted for drive-through barbecues to help visitors a celebrate Indigenous culture.
Although Indigenous Peoples Day takes place on Sunday this year, Fort Erie Native Friendship Centre celebrated early — hosting a drive through barbecue on Friday.
Representatives of the centre offered visitors a free meal while, while giving out prizes to winners of a poster contest, as well as to people who came through with their vehicles decorated in regalia and other Indigenous symbols.
“This is a place to be proud to be Indigenous, and this is how we celebrate,” said executive director Jennifer Dockstader.
The pandemic isn’t getting in the way of local First Nations people’s ability to display love for their culture.
“While we can’t do it in the exact same way, we can express our pride,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Niagara Regional Native Centre will hold its drive-through barbecue from 1 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, welcoming people to stop by its facilities at 382 Airport Rd., Niagara-on-the-lake.
The centre reminded people that there will be no physical social gathering as part of the celebration, to comply with physical distancing requirements.
However, in addition to the barbecued food — delivered to vehicles by masked and gloved staff members — the Native Centre will also offer a virtual celebration of Indigenous culture, broadcast live on the organization’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/niagararegionalnativecentre.
Asked about racism and discrimination being the centre of many protests around most of the world in recent weeks, Dockstader said the Friendship Centre will be represented at a Black Lives Matter event planned for Niagara Falls Saturday.