The world is a place of many cultures and traditions and bridging them can sometimes be difficult.
“We love only what we understand, and we will understand only what we are taught,” said world famous cellist Yo-Yo Ma at a White House Conference on Culture and Diplomacy. “We must learn about other cultures in order to understand, in order to love, and in order to preserve our common world heritage.”
On June 21, the Métis Nation Columbia River Society, in collaboration with Kicking Horse Culture’s Summer Kicks, invites everyone to recognize and celebrate the unique heritage and diverse cultures of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples.
The National Indigenous Peoples Day will feature a full day of engaging activities and demonstrations for the community’s participation and enjoyment at several venues.
“This celebration is open to our whole community as are most of our celebrations,” says Elder Davene Dunn, noting the local community has become close and is very supportive of their Indigenous neighbours. “Celebrations and ceremonies are important to the understanding of the identity and culture of the Indigenous people.”
Dunn adds that a celebration such as the one planned for Indigenous Peoples Day is especially important to the Indigenous youth to know that they are valued and can be proud of who they are.
The event will open with early morning Summer Solstice Yoga and Ancestral Meditation led by Scout Wiebe at the Pursuit Golden Skybridge from 7 to 8:15 a.m., followed by Labrador tea and bannock.
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At Golden Museum Grounds:
•9:30 – 10:30 a.m. Métis Pointelle Art open craft table.
•10 a.m. – Jigging and Red River dancing lessons with Caren Nagao and Kayla Taphorn. (30 mins)
•10 – 11 a.m. – Tea/coffee with a Elder Kokum Davene Dunn
•10:30 a.m. – Elder led smudging and teachings (Indigenous only) with knowledge keeper, Region 4 Senator/ Kokum Betty Hoogendoorn.
•10:30 a.m. – Hide stretching demonstration with Elder Ed Delisle. (30 mins)
•11 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Elder Tom Jobin will display his Métis Exhibit and will be available to answer questions.
•11 a.m. – Jigging and Red River dancing lessons with Caren Nagao and Kayla Taphorn. (30 mins)
•11 a.m. to noon – Genealogy table
•11:30 a.m. – Musical wooden spoon demo and lesson with Kokum Catherine Pearen. (30 mins)
•Noon to 1 p.m. – Bison chili and nannock will be offered at the concession while supplies last
•1 p.m. – Jigging and Red River dancing lessons with Caren Nagao and Kayla Taphorn. (30 mins)
•1:30 p.m. – Hide scraping/fleshing demonstration with Elder Ed Delisle. (30 mins)
•2 p.m. – Jigging and Red River dancing lessons with Caren Nagao and Kayla Taphorn. (30 mins)
•2 to 3 p.m. – Métis Pointelle Art open craft table.
Throughout the day Indigenous students from the Kikino room at Golden Secondary School will be volunteering their time. They will be helping to assist in jigging lessons, craft table, games and pop-up Indigenous Storytelling & facepainting.
Intermittent sashing and signing ceremonies will take place throughout the day and activities at the museum will end at 3 p.m.
The free family celebration will continue at 7 p.m. with Summer Kicks at Keith King Memorial Park, with a welcome by Métis Nation Columbia River Society President Travis Jobin. Then Travis will be joined by Ella and Finni Jobin for a family song. Additional performers include Buddy Wackett and The Floorwalkers, Will Wardwell, and The Usual Suspects.
According to their own website, little is known about the honky tonk band Buddy Wackett and the Floorwalkers, who claim to play “the honkiest of tonk for saints and sinners alike.” While it’s hard to get a straight answer out of the group as to where they’re from exactly, it’s rumoured that they live together in a run-down cabin deep in the backwoods of Parson.
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Get their story at www.buddywackettand the floorwalkers.com.
Also with a definite tongue-in-cheek vibe is Golden’s the Usual Suspects.
“We perform R n’ B, blues, pop and classic rock tunes – everything ‘danceable,” they declare. “We met in “Sing-Sing” prison while doing time for a botched music store robbery – but don’t let that fool you – we’re still just low-life criminals.”
“In addition, longtime valley musician Will Wardwell is back at Summer Kicks to play a tweener set of old time folk music to cap off the evening’s lineup,” says Bill Usher, Kicking Horse Culture’s executive and artistic director.
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