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NATIONAL JUNE 21, 2015 ABORIGINAL DAY Regina celebrates National Aboriginal Day 2015 By Jonathan hamelin For Postmedia sK sPecial ProJects nce again this year, Regina residents will have the chance to enjoy National Aboriginal Day (NAD) festivities in their home city. NAD is on June 21, and it’s a day for all Canadians to recognize and celebrate the unique heritage, diverse cultures and outstanding contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Métis people, the three groups recognized as Aboriginal people in the Canadian Constitution. The history of NAD can be traced back to 1982, when the National Indian Brotherhood (now the Assembly of First Nations) called for the creation of National Aboriginal Solidarity Day. In 1995, the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples recommended the designation of a National First Peoples Day. That same year, the Sacred Assembly, a national conference of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people chaired by Elijah Harper, called for a national holiday to celebrate the contributions of Aboriginal peoples. In 1996, Governor General of Canada Roméo LeBlanc announced NAD following consultations with various Aboriginal groups. While NAD is on June 21, there are a number of events taking place Friday in Regina.
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The Circle Project Association will be holding its annual celebration today from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Grassick Playground in Regina. The Circle Project Association provides programs based on the Aboriginal vision of wholeness, balance and healing, and promotes positive self-development through education, cultural awareness, family and community. “This day gives us the opportunity to showcase the beauty of the culture and get together as a community to celebrate,” said Circle Project Association executive director Ann Perry, who added that the event is free and is open to the public. “The community gathers in a safe, drugand alcohol-free environment. The culture is celebrated by both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people, some of whom haven’t had a lot of exposure to the culture. This provides them with an opportunity to learn.” The event’s grand entry is at 3 p.m. An Elder will start the event with a prayer, while one of the Circle Project staff members will sing “O Canada” in her native language. Once the event opens, a number of children’s activities will be available, including face painting, Dino Bouncer activities and an interactive cultural area. Students from Kitchener Community School in Regina will be performing the Red River Jig, a traditional dance of the Métis, while other community groups will be bringing dancers.
A barbecue begins at 5 p.m. While people are savouring their meal, they can enjoy performances by Brian Sklar and the TexPistols (Canada’s primo Western Swing and ’60s-style Nashville band) and White Bear First Nations’ Teagan Littlechief (an international recording artist). A traditional round dance will end the night’s festivities. Perry said the event averages 700 visitors a year. “The community’s response has been exceptional,” Perry said. “The event doesn’t start until 3 p.m., but throughout the whole morning we have neighbours stopping by asking when the event starts. Many people come here year after year with their families.” Other National Aboriginal Day events in Regina include: • Wascana Centre, June 19, all day: NAD activities begin at 9 a.m. in the northwest corner of Wascana Centre. The grand entry is at 10 a.m. There will be various forms of traditional entertainment, including singing, drumming, dancing, fiddling, children’s activities and more. • Royal Saskatchewan Museum, June 21, 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.: The public is welcome to celebrate NAD and Saskatchewan Archaeology Month with drop-in family activities such as traditional toys and games, pottery making and archaeology dig boxes.
Photo: CirCle ProjeCt AssoCiAtion
Hundreds of people will enjoy National Aboriginal Day celebrations presented by the Circle Project Association today from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Grassick Park. Regina Aboriginal Day celebrations are also underway throughout the day in Wascana Park.
RAPA holds strong ties to National Aboriginal History Month By Jonathan hamelin For Postmedia sK sPecial ProJects
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very June, Canadians celebrate National Aboriginal History Month, recognizing the historic contributions of Aboriginal peoples to the development of Canada as well as the strength of present day Aboriginal communities and their promise for the future. And it’s all thanks to the Regina Aboriginal Professionals’ Association (RAPA), a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of Regina's Aboriginal community. In 2007, RAPA proclaimed the month of June as Aboriginal History Month and began a grassroots campaign to have the month officially recognized and proclaimed by all three levels of government: municipal, provincial and federal. That same year, the City of Regina provided a local proclamation and the Government of Saskatchewan also made a formal declaration to support the cause. Also in 2007, Member of Parliament Jean Crowder — Nanaimo-Cowichan put forth a motion in the House of Commons to have June officially designated as Aboriginal History Month throughout Canada. On June 4, 2009, the House of Commons official accepted the motion. “We believe that we need to keep our his-
Photo: rAPA
Aboriginal History Month is now observed every June, the result of a grassroots campaign originated by the Regina Aboriginal Professionals’ Association (RAPA). The Association has organized numerous events throughout the month that celebrate the history and culture of First Nations people.
tory alive,” said RAPA president Nicole Akan. “We set out to achieve a number of objectives during the month: building cross-crosscultural relationships in our communities; encouraging a sense of pride and determination to share Aboriginal stories; developing positive partnerships with Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal groups; and creating an environment for youth to learn the traditional knowledge from our Elders.” RAPA helps put together a number of events and promotions during June. RAPA partnered with the First Nations University of Canada (FNUniv) Students’ Association
and the FNUniv Pow Wow committee to play host to the First Nations Pavilion at this year’s Mosaic, which was held in early June. From 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Friday, RAPA is partnering with the City of Regina’s Aboriginal City Employees group to put on an Aboriginal Talent Showcase in Victoria Park. On June 27, RAPA is hosting its third annual one-day Archery and Lacrosse Camp at FNUniv. The day starts with a prayer led by an Elder and there is valuable knowledge passed along to youth. “Our events are always a great success and the community really enjoys them,” said
Akan, who noted that every event is open to the public. The prospect of celebrating the history of Aboriginal peoples was the factor that drew Akan to RAPA in the first place. She has spent three years on the association’s board of directors and became the president in April 2015. “I feel very fortunate to be in this role and to be able to learn more about my culture. I think that’s the most rewarding thing for me,” said Akan. “I grew up in Regina and never was surrounded by my culture. My family was never traditional, and I know that’s
true for a lot of Aboriginal people in the city. We’ve lost some of our culture, but through events like these — when we talk about the history — it’s a nice way to educate people.” Beyond Aboriginal History Month, Akan said RAPA focuses on advancing success within the First Nations community. Over 16 years, she said RAPA has partnered with many Aboriginal organizations in the community and set up networking opportunities. For example, RAPA publishes a Proud Generation Role Model calendar, which showcases six Aboriginal youth, along with six Aboriginal professionals. Akan said the calendar focuses on the accomplishments of the community and provides youth with role models to look up to. Every student featured on the calendar also receives a small scholarship to help advance their education. “Our goal is to continue fostering working relationships with community organizations, members and corporate entities to ensure the Regina Aboriginal Professionals’ Association can effectively provide programs and events for all ethnicities,” said RAPA Communications Lead Brad Bellegarde. For more information on RAPA, visit www.rapanetwork.ca. To volunteer for an Aboriginal History Month event, email rapanetwork@gmail.com.
These stories were produced by Leader-Post Special Projects to promote awareness of this topic for commercial purposes. The Leader-Post editorial department had no involvement in the creation of this content.
The Regina Catholic School Division Celebrates
National Aboriginal Day 2015!
Feels like a fit
The Regina Catholic School Division proudly joins everyone across Canada in celebrating National Aboriginal Day, a special day for honouring the unique heritages, cultures, and contributions of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis people in Canada.
Be comfortable with diversity At FCC, we’ve built a culture where you can be yourself. You’re an individual and it takes strong individuals to make a strong team. So, be who you are and feel at home when you go to work. We’re proud to celebrate June 21 as National Aboriginal Day. fcc.ca/Diversity
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