National Aboriginal Week in Red Deer to be highlighted by signing of Protocol Agreement

Red Deer will do its part starting Sunday for National Aboriginal Week.
 
Locals are being encouraged to engage in the event, which is largely a celebration of Indigenous culture and history.
 
Lianne Hazell, spokesperson for the Red Deer Native Friendship Society, says every year, people who participate have more fun than they expect.
 
“It’s such a good chance for everyone in the community to come in and get an idea of what happens in the Aboriginal community and how they can join in,” she says. “There are going to be Métis dancers and pow wow dancers coming — it’s the third year in a row we’re having a tipi raising contest. That’s not by any means the full extent of the activities.”
 
The week is to be punctuated by a special city council meeting for the purpose of entering into a formal Protocol Agreement with the Red Deer Urban Aboriginal Voices Society. A pipe ceremony and blanket exercise will be held afterwards at Coronation Park, the details of which are below. The special meeting will begin at 9:30 at City Hall.
 
Activities for the week are as follows:
 
Sunday, June 18 – Beading with Deserae Yellow Horn at the Red Deer Museum and Art Gallery from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. More information is available by calling 403-309-8405.
 
Monday, June 19 – An Intro to National Aboriginal Day at Central Alberta Refugee Effort (5000 Gaetz Ave, Red Deer) from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Hear from Pam Taylor with the Urban Aboriginal Voices Society speak in the latest Cultural Café event.
 
Wednesday, June 21 (National Aboriginal Day) – Community Pipe Ceremony from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Coronation Park rock circle. The ceremony will celebrate the signing of the protocol agreement between UAVS and the City of Red Deer earlier in the day. From 1 to 3 p.m., there will be a community blanket exercise in which participants will learn about the historic and contemporary relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Canada. It will answer the question, “Why is reconciliation important?”
 
Friday, June 23 – Wichinahin Kophopikiwan Open House from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Helping Me Grow Aboriginal Playschool (4620 47 Avenue, Red Deer). Call 403-314-0716 for more information.
 
Sunday, June 25 – National Aboriginal Week wrap-up from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Rotary Recreation Park (behind the Rec. Centre). Join in a day of celebration, games, contests, BBQ, traditional dancing and artisans on site. Call 403-340-0020 for more information

It isn’t lost on Hazell that shortly following National Aboriginal Week and Day is Canada’s 150th birthday, as it is every year. She admits initially, her connection to Canada’s biggest party wasn’t all that positive.

“If this is 150, this is a good chance for the Aboriginal community to come together with settlers, with the Canadians — the people who came after — and start fresh and really talk about moving towards developing a really positive relationship where everyone really can live really well and happily together,” she says.