16th Annual Aboriginal Gathering and 8th Annual Powwow: June 11-12, 2011

It's Powwow time in the Peace Country, and in a new location this year--the Agricultural Grounds in Northern Sunrise County, East of Peace River. This is where the opening and closing ceremonies were held last year for the Alberta Summer Games and it should be a great venue for this important event. 

As much as I love the Twelve Foot Davis Ball Park, where the event was held for the past two years, it poses many challenges, such as not enough space for camping, no kitchen, and traffic control over the Heart River bridge.  At the Ag Grounds there is lots of room for camping, plus space for the drumming, dancing, jigging, and fiddling events, food booths, displays, and merchants. But I'll miss hearing the sounds of the drums and singing coming up from the ball park!

It's a great family event and a wonderful opportunity to see highly-talented individuals celebrating their culture. Plan to attend!

Poster

Learning About Islam in Peace River

In the interests of promoting cultural understanding, I'm once again moderating a short session about Islam tomorrow (September 25) at 2:00-3:00 PM at the Sawridge Inn in Peace River, (doors open at 2:30). The event is presented by Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama'at. There is no charge but registration is requested so organizers know how much is needed for refreshments--call 1-866-208-2683. The topic is the Islamic perspective on the theory of evolution.

Peace River African Descendants Society Event: February 20, 2010

The Peace River African Descendants Society (PRADS) is celebrating Black History Month with a great event on February 20 at the Belle Petroleum Centre. There will be a dinner and then entertainment by Ezeadi Onukwulu and One Human Race. Tickets are $30 and available at Java Domain and the Belle Petroleum Centre or by emailing prad.society@gmail.com. See you there!

Aboriginal Gathering & Pow Wow: June 13-14

It looks like there will be great weather this weekend for the Aboriginal Gathering & Pow Wow, being held in its new location--the Twelve Foot Davis Ball Park--on Saturday and Sunday.

Peace River and area residents will want to take advantage of the scenic location to come and watch the wonderful dancers, singers, drummers, and Metis fiddlers and jiggers. There are also children's activities, food booths, and displays.

This is one of only a few off-reserve events on the Pow Wow Trail and a great opportunity to learn about Aboriginal culture.

Aboriginal Gathering & Pow Wow: Honoring Our Elders

Once again the Peace Region Aboriginal Interagency Committee is hosting the Aboriginal Gathering and Pow Wow. It's being held on June 13 and 14 in Peace River at a new location--the Twelve Foot Davis Ball Park.

With the move to this new location, we expect a few growing pains but are hopeful that this beautiful natural amphitheatre will be a great location for this year's event and those in the future.

I encourage everyone to come and see the wonderful dancing, singing, drumming, Metis fiddling and jigging, displays, food and more. It's a full two days of celebration of Aboriginal culture.

This is an alcohol and drug free event that is very family-oriented and includes children's activities coordinated by the Town's Community Services Department.

One of the aspects that I especially enjoy is the presentation of blankets and feathers to people of Aboriginal heritage who have graduated from high school in the past year. And this year, graduates from college and universities are also being honoured. As well, Northlands School Division is celebrating its 25th anniversary and this milestone is being celebrated.

The AIC is seeking volunteers to help with a variety of tasks to make the event go smoothly. If you can contribute a few hours, contact Dianne Lavoie at 780-618-9268 (diannelavoie@telusplanet.net) or Tracy Zweifel at 780-624-2443 (tracy-sagitawa@telus.net) to find out where your help is most needed.

For more information about the Gathering and Pow Wow, contact Christina Hogaboam at 780-624-6316 (christina.hogaboam@gov.ab.ca) or Dennis Whitford at 780-624-6367 (dennis.whitford@gov.ab.ca)

Sisters in Spirit Walk

The very successful Sisters in Spirit Walk, an activity of the Aboriginal Interagency Committee, was held again this year in Peace River on May 19. This walk, with others across the country, honours Aboriginal women who are missing or murdered.

A large number of people--Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal, men, women and children--gathered at the mall and then walked, with RCMP in red serge in the lead, down Main Street and towards Riverfront Park. Since the weather was cold and unsettled, organizers decided to move the event from the park to the basement of Athabasca Hall.

People were smudged as they entered and handed a tobacco pouch and then formed a circle. Elder Helen Piper offered an opening prayer and then the names of missing and murdered women were read aloud. The good news was that there were no names added to the list for this year's event, but there were still 40 names to read. An honour dance was performed by two male and three female dancers in traditional regalia.

Greetings by Mayor Callioux on behalf of the Town, Brandy Mitchell of Region 6 Metis Nation of Alberta, and Kitty Brown from the Sagitawa Friendship Centre were followed by keynote speaker Linda Roy from Awo Taan Healing Lodge in Calgary. Linda spoke of her personal and professional experience with violence against women.

After a beautiful flute interlude by Danya Auger, we heard testimonials and remembrances from family members of four missing or murdered women: Arlene Thunder, Jessica Noskey, Rene Lynn Gunning, and Rhonda Whitehead. Others were invited to speak and a number of people from the audience chose to do so.

Elder Helen Piper offered a closing prayer and then the group did an innovative round dance in a very small space (so much easier to do outside!). I really enjoy these dances and appreciate how they join people together with the singing and drumming. After the dance we had a social time with coffee and bannock in the Anglican Church basement.

The evening was emotional and a reminder of the terrible legacy that has resulted from colonization. The Sisters in Spirit Walk offers all of us an opportunity to bring attention to the continuing problem of violence against women--Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal--and to remember and honour the memory of the murdered and missing women as well as to stand in solidarity with their families and the Aboriginal community. It's a privilege to take part.

Big Peace Country Events Coming Up

February 12-15 will keep residents in the Peace River-St. Isidore-Grimshaw area (and beyond) busy and with lots of choices for entertainment.

Our part of the province will be hosting two huge events, both of which rely on legions of volunteers, donors, financial and in-kind contributions, and lots of collaborative effort--hallmarks of the Peace Country.

The oldest of the two is the 27th annual St. Isidore Carnaval, one of the largest francophone parties in Alberta. There is snow sculpting, hay rides, poutine and pattes de lynx, maple snow taffy, log sawing, and snow volleyball to mention just a few of the activities and food offerings. And of course, lots of francophone music and dance, including local and "imported"talent.

This year I'm finally going to attend and my bilingual and unilingual friends assure me that language is no barrier to having a great time!

Alberta Pond Hockey at Lac Cardinal is in its 3rd year and just gets bigger and better, with 80 teams (including one made up of Edmonton Oilers) registered this year. Check out the 2008 photo gallery to get an idea of what pond hockey looks like.

This year there will be around 400 players playing over 300 games of hockey on 19 natural ice rinks that are now being built by what the Pond Hockey website calls an "army of volunteers."

I'll be taking in the Gala on Saturday night as well as the Sunday pancake breakfast at the Lac Cardinal Regional Pioneer Village Museum (click on the museum link for a 360 view), great entertainment and of course, some hockey games.

See you there!