For the first time ever, indigenous communities in Olds and the surrounding areas are coming together to celebrate National Aboriginal Day this Wednesday (June 21), with enthusiastic support from the town and the local community.
While Deborah Trehearne, chair of the celebration's planning committee, is hoping those who identify as aboriginal will come out and participate, she said that wasn't the driving idea behind the inaugural celebration.
ìIt (is) a gift to the community,î she said.
Trehearne, who comes from the MÈtis community of Kikino, was adopted as a baby and grew up in a ìmainstreamî family.
ìI lost my heritage,î she said, ìand I denied my heritage until I was about 50 years old.î
When she came to Olds eight years ago, there was a First Nations woman who helped her get established in the community, Trehearne said.
ìSomething awoke within me, and I just decided to learn more, and be more, and acknowledge it,î she said. ìAnd I was welcomed back into the First Nations people, by a Cree elder during a blanket ceremony. It was beautiful.î
Trehearne wants to pass that beauty on, and share it with the people of Olds ñ aboriginal and non-aboriginal alike.
In addition to a celebration of culture ñ with First Nations dancers in full regalia, drumming, MÈtis jiggers, traditional food and plenty of child-friendly activities for the 500 expected local school kids ñ the day is also intended to share knowledge and answer questions.
There will be a teachings tipi hosted by John Sinclair, a Cree elder from Trochu, who is hoping the event will help cultivate more awareness about indigenous issues and culture.
ìThere's a lot of things that people don't know,î said Sinclair. ìPeople sometimes don't know how to ask, or what to ask, or who to ask, so they never get answers.î
ìI think that this is going to be an exciting event for people to be able to ask questions and get some answers and not to feel that they are intruding or that they are asking a dumb question.î
Members from the recent Truth and Reconciliation Commission will also be on hand to help provide information about the process and its importance.
ìThere's a lot of people that don't understand what truth and reconciliation is, and they don't understand why Canada is doing this,î said Trehearne.
In the afternoon the community is invited to join an open music jam, with hopes that the sounds of drums will blend with local talents on fiddles, guitars and anything else people want to contribute.
The day will end with a free screening of Elder in the Making, a Calgary International Film Festival selection about a Chinese-Albertan and a Blackfoot aboriginal who set out together to discover their heritage.
Funding for the day's celebrations came from a Canada 150 grant through the town, and from the United Church of Canada through its Truth and Reconciliation fund. In addition, several businesses have donated supplies and venues for the celebrations.
ìThe fact that Olds and the town is behind this, and is supporting it,î said Sinclair, ìspeaks loudly about what's happening in a progressive community like Olds.î
Trehearne said many people don't realize there are aboriginal members of the community. In fact, according to Doreen Bergum, a MÈtis elder who lives in Olds, there are at least 85 registered MÈtis here, in addition to other indigenous members like Trehearne.
ìThis is what this day is all about. So that we can come out and show people that yes, there is a First Nations community within Olds.î
"This is what this day is all about. So that we can come out and show people that yes, there is a First Nations community within Olds."DEBORAH TREHEARNE CHAIR ORGANIZING COMMITTEE
