NORTHEAST – The Northeast will be observing National Indigenous Peoples Day with events and activities planned for Tisdale, Humboldt, Nipawin, Melfort and many other northeast communities.
Tisdale Reconciliation is hosting Kendra Thomas-Smokeyday from Kinistin Saulteaux Nation for National Indigenous Peoples Day. Smokeyday will be dancing Jingle Dress on the 21st at the Tisdale Museum and sharing the meaning behind the dance with everyone in attendance. Also at the Tisdale Museum is fiddler JJ Guy, performing Métis fiddle music, and Creeland dancer Amy Sasakamoose and Regan Ratt-Misponas will be performing.
Drummer, Rylan Smallchild, who currently resides at Yellow Quill First Nation, will be performing at the flag-raising. Smallchild will have an educational station for students to learn about drumming and lead a friendship dance at the end of the day. Several schools in the Northeast School division are planning to attend the day.
“The Métis have always been a social and festive people with a love of song and dance. Once fiddles were brought into what is now the Métis Homeland, the Me虂tis began playing and making their own tunes, often mixing First Nations, Scots, and French-Canadian rhythms, but with their own unique beats.”
Nipawin Reconciliation Committee also has plans for June 21 on National Indigenous Peoples Day. They plan to celebrate the rich and diverse cultures of Indigenous People with a flag raising at 11 a.m. at the Nipawin Town Office, with a bannock burger fundraiser to follow. Everyone is welcome.
Melfort Reconciliation is offering an Office of Treaty Commission (OTC) webinar that is asking people to listen, learn, show up and engage with with Indigenous cultures across Turtle Island for National Indigenous Peoples Day. On Friday morning, anyone can go online with Delvin Kane虃wiyakiho a member of the OTC Speakers Bureau. Delvin will speak about the true history of Indigeneity and the importance of why we honour June 21. Delvin has 28 years of experience in education. A certified Treaty catalyst teacher, he helps colleagues with their Treaty teaching using the treaty curriculum and uses his own experiences to give participants a good start in their treaty learning journey. To join, visit the following link:
Humboldt and District Museum and Gallery are encouraging folks to learn more about Indigenous culture and history. Guided tours will be held on Thursday, June 20 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Original Humboldt site to learn about pre-settlement history of the Humboldt region. The Red River Carts, the Carlton Trail, the Dominion Telegraph line, the 1885 North-West Resistance and Chief Whitecap and the Dakota Nation all intersect on this piece of land. The last tour begins at 8 p.m. Tours will involve walking the trails or sitting on one of the many benches and listening to the history of the land. Original Humboldt is eight km west of Humboldt on Highway 5.
The Gallery also has the exhibit Tepakohp on display until June 22, which features seven Indigenous artists.
