Shown, clockwise from bottom left, Krista Fox speaks to guests, a powwow dancer dazzles, Mayor Ames Leslie joins in the Round Dance, and dancers prepare for the ceremony. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW staff)

By Angela Brown

Coming together

Town celebrates National Indigenous Peoples Day

Jun 17, 2022 | 5:00 AM

It was a day to celebrate Indigenous culture when the Town of Battleford hosted National Indigenous Peoples Day on Thursday.

While the day officially takes place June 21, the town wanted to give more people an opportunity to attend other events in the community at that time, so held its celebration a little earlier.

Powwow dancers performed in the afternoon in downtown Battleford, followed by a Round Dance in which town councillors and Battleford Mayor Ames Leslie also joined hands to take part.

“We’re very honoured to host this day in Battleford,” Leslie said. “The history of the town of Battleford, and the Fort and other things is one that we’re trying to slowly change, bridge the communities, and help us bring Indigenous and non-Indigenous together to celebrate and move forward on a path of success together, and grow our communities stronger and better into the future as a collective group.”

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Leslie said days like these may seem insignificant in the big picture, but “they go a long way to help bridge that relationship and work on that trust and create allies within our community.”

The town offered the Indigenous Day event through a partnership with Battlefords Agency Tribal Chiefs Inc. (BATC), BATC Community Development Corporation, Chief Poundmaker Museum, Miyawata Culture Inc. and Mosquito Grizzly Bear’s Head Lean Man First Nation Economic Development Corp.

Battlefords MLA Jeremy Cockrill said it was great to have Battleford host the celebration. He also took part in the pipe ceremony in the morning outside the town hall where a teepee was set up for the occasion.

“It’s always good when we have an opportunity to learn about each other, learn about each others’ traditions and history,” he said. “It helps us move forward together in a better way.”

Shown, right: left to right, Mayor Ames Leslie, MLA Jeremy Cockrill, Mayor David Gillan and Treaty Commissioner Mary Culberston at the opening ceremony. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW Staff)

North Battleford representatives attended to show their support for the event as well.

“We’re here to support our regional partners,” Mayor David Gillan said. “It’s great to see the dignitaries here today, really supporting the cause. This exemplifies what we are trying to achieve here in the Battlefords and in the region, which is to be inclusive. Today is a very important part of that.”

Saskatchewan Treaty Commissioner Mary Culbertson said she appreciated being able to attend the event.

“I’m glad that they made space to not interfere with the other Indigenous Peoples Day celebrations, so I was able to come,” she said. “I’m really proud to see this happening, and we know there is a lot of healing that does have to happen here.”

The day finished with a Round Dance with everyone taking part.

There was also a word from local advocate Krista Fox, who is on a cross-country walk to raise awareness about Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW)

She also stopped in the Battlefords to attend the Indigenous Peoples Day celebration.

In a moving speech, she asked people to take time to remember missing North Battleford woman, Ashley Morin of Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation, who disappeared in July of 2018.

“Do not forget we have our own missing love ones,” Fox said. “We have yet to bring her home.”

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Angela.Brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW