Plans are in full swing for the Flin Flon Aboriginal Friendship Centre’s celebration for National Indigenous Peoples’ Day.
As has been the case for the past several years, this year’s National Indigenous Peoples Day celebration will take place at Rotary Park June 21, with a full schedule of events from morning to evening. Each event is meant to share Indigenous knowledge and to honour Indigenous artists, tradition and culture.
Elder Margaret Head-Steppan will bless the grounds at 9 a.m., followed by the set-up of a tipi, then setting up tents, flags, vendor and community group tables and chairs. Further setup will take place leading up to 1 p.m., when the events will get started with an opening prayer by Head-Steppan and Celina Bone, along with greetings from assembled dignitaries.
From 1 p.m. to 8 p.m., the grounds will be packed with activity. A selection of Indigenous entertainers will perform during the day, including the Northern Lights Women Singers, Ron Burwash, the Silver Evening Star Singers and Northern Eagle Traditional Dancers. The North Buffalo Singers and Dancers from Opaskwayak Cree Nation will perform at 2 p.m., while other mainly local performers - Courtney Lycan and Mark Kolt, a series of student performers, Jacob Harvie and the Nemihitowok Hoop Dancers - will take to the stage throughout the day. Throughout the day will be tipi teachings, arts and crafts with the NorVA Centre and Uptown Emporium, medicine bag and tobacco tie making with Head-Steppan and Loretta McDermott, face painting, Indigenous kids’ games, snacks and other events.
The main event will be Black Rain, a rock band from Ahtahkakoop First Nation in Saskatchewan. Consisting of the Peekeekoot brothers - Jamie and Ryan - and bass player Kevin Joseph, Black Rain has recorded and released several studio albums and performed around the world. The group will play two sets at Rotary Park, one starting at 4 p.m. and a second at 6 p.m.
More information or further updates can be found on the Friendship Centre’s social media pages.
