Podcast: Knowledge keeper Clare Butterfly, Sylvan Lake Mayor Megan Hanson talk National Indigenous Peoples Day

Then, in 1995, the Sacred Assembly, a national conference of Indigenous and non-Indigenous people chaired by Elijah Harper, called for a national holiday to celebrate the contributions of Indigenous Peoples. That same year, the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples recommended the designation of a National First Peoples Day.

The day became known under its current moniker in 2017.

If you ask Clare Butterfly, who is a Cree knowledge keeper and Indigenous education teacher for Chinook’s Edge School Division, it’s not something that, when he was a student, ever crossed his mind as something that could exist.

“For a lot of Indian kids, it wasn’t a thing that was even thought of or talked about, and I would say for a lot of those [same] kids, [they] weren’t really proud of, [or] wouldn’t want to advertise the fact [they were Indigenous],” he tells rdnewsNOW and The Everything Red Deer Podcast.

“Myself, I was never really like, ‘Oh, you guys need to learn about my culture,’ and I still don’t think that. I don’t want to push anything on anybody.”

Going into schools these days, Butterfly shares that he doesn’t push the spiritual side of Indigenous culture to students, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous.

Fortunately, he says, more students continue to attend his teachings, and a higher percentage of Indigenous students are gaining a certain pride, sense of self, and fervour for their background and culture.

What Butterfly has a particular passion for is the land, and extolling all its bounties, from food to medicine, and more.

“I think most humans have that passion in them for the land, they just don’t know it until they get out in it. I’ve spent so much time out in the bush, hunting, looking for plants, that living out there is just my life,” he adds.

“There’s a culture of hunting around here, there’s a lot of agriculture, and most people have a connection to the land. To be able to teach my life, I’m pretty lucky.”

Butterfly also says that he doesn’t want to make gaps harder to bridge when it comes to Indigenous and non-Indigenous people, so keeping it positive, especially on June 21, is key.

Butterfly is the head organizer of festivities taking place in Sylvan Lake on June 21.

Things get going at 11 with an Indigenous market, with several activities like tipi talks with elders, medicine walks, and a powwow showcase, taking the day through to 5:30. All festivities are now taking place at the NexSource Centre due to anticipated rain.

In Red Deer, an NIDP event is happening at Shining Mountains Living Community Services (4925 46 Street), from 11-12:30.

And on Monday, June 22, Powwow Times is hosting an NIDP Dinner at Festival Hall (4214 48 Street). That runs from 5-8 p.m.

For all events, everyone is welcome.

by Josh Hall

Podcast: Knowledge keeper Clare Butterfly, Sylvan Lake Mayor Megan Hanson talk National Indigenous Peoples Day

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