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Conference and Pow Wow highlight National Aboriginal Day in Red Deer

Jun 19, 2018 | 11:25 AM

The first ever National Aboriginal Day Conference in Red Deer taking place this week is aiming to challenge stereotypes and provide a better understanding of the Indigenous way of life.

The conference runs June 21 and 22 at the Sheraton Red Deer. While the target audience is professionals, according to organizers, everyone is welcome.

Event Director Ashley Patterson says the 70 or more who will be in attendance will go through Aboriginal awareness training, including Medicine Wheel Teachings, Coyote Teachings about two-spirited people, Inuit history and Aboriginal games.

“We have a vision for the conference and that is to celebrate the unique heritage and cultural knowledge and the inclusion of Indigenous people in community life,” Patterson says. “We believe the conference will help bring reconciliation and help us act on the 94 calls to action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.”

Professionals are expected to come into town for the conference from across Western Canada.

The event is spearheaded by the Red Deer Native Friendship Society, in conjunction with Heritage Family Services, the WIC Network, Lifelong Learning Council, Urban Aboriginal Voices Society, Red Deer Public and Catholic school divisions, the Red Deer Museum, The City of Red Deer and the Hub on Ross.

In addition, there will be a traditional Pow Wow event happening June 21, also at the Sheraton, from 5-10 p.m. The event is free to attend and enjoy, but there will be a charge for a buffet dinner of traditional food starting at around 6 p.m.

“It’s very powerful. I’ve heard from people it is almost an emotional and spiritual experience,” Patterson says of the Pow Wow. “Everyone is welcome. You don’t need to be an Aboriginal or Indigenous person to attend. I would really like everybody to come because it’s a community event.”

June 21 is National Aboriginal Day and Patterson concludes that Red Deer still has work to do in terms of becoming less discriminatory to local Indigenous peoples.

“There are always going to be those people,” she says. “It is really hard to change someone’s perspective, especially when it’s something they’ve been taught and exposed to their entire lives. I do believe we are tuning a new leaf in Red Deer.”

The Red Deer Welcoming and Inclusive Communities Network is also hosting a free half-day conference on June 22, which will focus on exploring the calls to action of the TRC.

A full list of other events happening this week is available on the Red Deer Native Friendship Society Facebook page.

Author’s note: In 2017, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced National Aboriginal Day would be known as National Indigenous Peoples Day, however there are many events across the country still going by the former name.