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Aboriginal Day a community celebration

Canim Lake Band hosts all-day public event to celebrate National Aboriginal Day
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Canim Lake Band's Alana Dick

Canim Lake Band is celebrating National Aboriginal Day on June 21, and is welcoming the South Cariboo community to participate.

The band is hosting an abundance of cultural activities and displays at Eliza Archie Memorial School.

Chief Mike Archie says there is significance to the date selected for National Aboriginal Day, which recognizes Aboriginal culture and heritage.

"It more or less lands on a solstice, and in our culture and our values, those are the days that we celebrate and feast.

It is important celebrations like this take place, locally and throughout Canada, he adds.

"Canim Lake has come a long way to recognize and share in that culture, and our language and traditions, within our community and amongst our children right through to our Elders.

"We welcome anybody else who wants to be involved to come out and join us on that day."

Staff member Pam Theodore, who organized much of the event, says the public may feel free to observe, or even participate in events if they wish.

"We are trying to preserve our culture and traditions and pass on knowledge about our people. We began doing this a couple of years ago for our community members to enjoy the day and celebrate their culture and traditions."

While bigger urban celebrations happen in Williams Lake and Kamloops, she notes a majority of band members just aren’t able to travel too far to participate.

"Our staff works together to bring to our people a celebration of our culture and traditions in a way that they can celebrate their heritage and participate in cultural activities.

"It is a good way for some of our youth to learn about our ways through their Elders."

The June 21 event begins at 9 a.m. with a welcome ceremony by chief and council, and runs until 5 p.m.

Novelty races will take place while the booths display baskets, drums, beadwork, crafts and cradles.

At an ethnobotany booth, Elders will share their heritage and knowledge in the traditional uses of many plants, as well as where, when and how to gather them.

Other learning booths will demonstrate creative skills in making drums and dream catchers, as well as provide information on archery, lacrosse and two-ball sports.

Hunting, fishing, trapping and traditional sweats, foods and medicines will also be featured.

These booths will stay open while traditional drumming and dancing gets underway, followed by a bannock-making contest, and a hotdog lunch provided by 100 Mile House Safeway.

In the afternoon, an Amazing REZ Race, a Lahal tournament, and various other games will provide both exercise and entertainment.

However, for many band members the day kicks off much earlier with the Traditional Sunrise Sweat at 7 a.m., which Chief Archie explains is a spiritual mainstay in their culture.

"There is a lot  of cleansing that goes on, spiritually, emotionally and physically, and it is a form of prayer.

"It's dark in there, and it's like the brain going back into the mother womb, and when you come out you are reborn."

He explains the sunrise timing is meant to greet the day, and the events of the day.

As a leader, the chief adds he is "running here and there" constantly, and really depends on his staff to get the behind-the-scenes work done.

"I'm thankful. It does take a community to share it all out.

A lot of hard work goes into planning the event. I take my hat off to my staff."

Theodore was instrumental in that organizing, he says, adding she is a valued community member with a strong work ethic.

"Pam [Theodore] is one of those who do up a lot of the schedules, and she is a major part of the organization of Aboriginal Day, which is important to take place."

Chief Archie notes he often likes to jest that the band is "a matriarchal society," because the women do so much of the hard work.

"We must acknowledge and give thanks to these women. Because, Aboriginal Day is honouring our way of life, and they are a big part of it."

Aboriginal Day has been a recognized national event since back in 1982, when the Canada's Constitution Act first recognized and affirmed Aboriginal and treaty rights.