By Jessie Weisner (Twitter: @Jessie__Weisner)

High turnout for National Aboriginal Day in Rocky Mountain House

Jun 22, 2018 | 3:15 PM

Despite scorching temperatures and pouring rain, yesterday’s National Aboriginal Day celebration in Rocky Mountain House was a huge success.

Hosted by the Rocky Native Friendship Society, the day is meant to bring all members of the community together on a day significant to Aboriginal cultures.

“It’s a day signifying the longest day of the year and the transition from spring to summer, and it was a great high energy day,” says Kirby BigChild, Executive Director for the Rocky Native Friendship Society. “Back in the day, Indigenous tribes would get together and celebrate the change of season.”

Featuring traditional dancers with drum circles, the event aimed to immerse the public in Aboriginal culture.

“It’s really important for our community, especially with the reconciliation with our Indigenous communities and just indulging them in our culture,” says Larissa McCarthy, Legacy Youth Activities Director for the Friendship Society. “We want to have them come out and here and listen to the Pow-Wow drums and watch the traditional dancers, see the regalia and just connect with us.”

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Hundreds of people circled through the event throughout the day, including students from local schools.

Roughly 350 students from École Rocky Elementary, Lochern Elementary and Pioneer Middle School stopped by to make bannock and crafts, and enjoy the cultural activities.

BigChild says having school children present is essential when developing future relationships.

“It’s for them to hear the music, and for them to see the different people in the community and to be comfortable with one another,” says BigChild. “We have to start that awareness and that culture sharing at a young age.”

The celebration was months in the making, and community members came together to make the day possible.

“We are really thankful to the Baich family for letting us use this land for this awesome day, and thankful for the Town to allow for the fireworks,” says BigChild. “It took a community to make this happen and everybody really pulled together for it.”

The celebration brought in an estimated 600 people, specifically for the fireworks in the evening, which were set off to the beats of traditional Indigenous drumming.