Rebecca Strong performs on the steps of Prince Albert City Hall on Friday as part of National Indigenous Peoples Day festivities. (Logan Lehmann/paNOW Staff)

By Logan Lehmann

Giving back

Rebecca Strong kicks off National Indigenous Peoples Day festivities in P.A.

Jun 21, 2024 | 3:00 PM

Hundreds gathered outside City Hall on Friday morning as one of the city’s biggest celebrities helped kickoff National Indigenous Peoples Day in Prince Albert.

Canada’s Got Talent winner and P.A.’s own Rebecca Strong took to the mic to sing some songs and said life has been busy since taking home top prize at the show.

“I’ve been planning for the future, doing some gigs here and there,” she said. “June is a busy month, especially for Indigenous People’s Day like today. Other than that, just focusing on my music and seeing how I can better my career.”

After performing a few songs, majority of those in attendance began to line up to embark on a ‘Unity Walk’. Walkers marched from City Hall to Kinsmen Park where the rest of the day’s festivities are taking place. Before taking off though, members of The Northern Boys sang a prayer song while Sturgeon Lake First Nation Elder Henry Felix rehearsed a prayer.

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While performing, Strong was also collecting donations for the Prince Albert Grand Council’s (PAGC) ‘Tiny Home Project’ for the homeless, saying she wants to help her hometown and her neighbours.

“Indigenous People’s Day is a very big day and of course I could’ve went and done some gig for some money, but I would rather not take advantage of the day and give back to my community. A lot of the homeless are also indigenous people, so I want to not have that and give them homes and a warm place to stay.”

With the large crowd in front of City Hall, she added that it was great to see the community come together to support a great day and a great cause.

As mentioned, National Indigenous Peoples Day events will continue at Kinsmen Park until 9:00 p.m. The day will wrap up with a firework show along the riverbank at 10:30.

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loganc.lehmann@pattisonmedia.com