Today I attended Indigenous Celebration Day at Lethbridge College, where I spent 10 great years as a faculty member in the counselling department many years ago. In today’s opening ceremony a Blackfoot name meaning ‘Stone Pipe’ was given to the college and the significance explained.
Canadian and Albertan flags carried in Grand Entry.
The Blackfoot Confederacy flag was one of the flags carried in the Grand Entry and College representatives acknowledged that the College is on Blackfoot land, a form of respect I first heard at public gatherings in Australia with regard to traditional Aboriginal lands there. The Lethbridge Reconciliation flag was also in evidence, the City of Lethbridge having recently celebrated its first Reconciliation Week. http://www.lethbridge.ca/City-Government/Pages/Reconciliation.aspx
This dancer has a beautiful buckskin costume.
Young dancers perform, above and below.
Métis dancer.
Soul Sisters perform.
Today’s program included drummers, dancers, singers and free food – Indian tacos, buffalo meat balls, berry soup made with saskatoons, and fried bread. Various community organizations had displays. A large international student group joined the celebration at one point.
Lunch included "Indian" tacos, above, and fried bread with berry soup, below.
Today’s event represents both a continuation of initiatives in place at Lethbridge College over previous decades and the evolution in thinking about indigenous issues in Canada and globally.
Métis sashes displayed on Hudson Bay blanket.
Blood Tribe Police display.
This was another enjoyable and valuable learning experience as I reconnect with the city that is once again my home after occasional visits during 20 years away.
Reconciliation Lethbridge flag on a display table.