THUNDER BAY – It’s up to younger generations to carry on traditions and customs so they don’t become lost.
Organizers of local National Aboriginal Day events, which were held Sunday at the Fort William First Nation powwow grounds, said that’s a primary focus of this year’s celebration.
Amy Farrell-Morneau, chair of National Aboriginal Day committee and Aboriginal liaison for Lakehead Public School Board, said a vibrant display of traditional First Nations way of life is vital to ensuring it’s preserved into the future.
“The importance is making sure this part of our culture stays alive and it’s being reclaimed by more and more generations especially as we consider some of the past history of Canada where some of our ceremonies were not allowed to be celebrated and practiced,” she said.
National Aboriginal Day has been annually celebrated in Canada since 1996 when then governor general Romeo Leblanc decreed that the summer solstice, June 21, be recognized to honour the country’s Aboriginal, Inuit and Metis people.
Locally, it was marked with a day of activities revolving around a traditional powwow, which included a grand entry followed by drumming and dancing and concluding with a ceremonial feast.
Fort William First Nation Chief Peter Collins said opportunities such as National Aboriginal Day are opportunities to revive their culture which, though a struggle at times, has survived through centuries.
“My generation and in my time we never had the culture and the language. It had been lost,” Collins said.
“But now the young people in our communities are starting to build on their culture, starting to understand the language and starting to participate in those forums. As our curriculum is injected into the schools hopefully our people regain our language in our community.”
With her role working in the city’s schools, Farrell-Morneau knows the importance of teaching children about First Nations way of life.
That education also plays a major role in starting and facilitating conversations.
“There is a lot of cultural content that’s incorporated into curriculums every day, so it’s not just certain times of years,” she said. “It’s more of a daily practice of incorporating those pieces of culture so it’s a natural element and that students can see themselves as part of whatever the teacher is bringing to show them.”
A few hundred people made the trip up to the Mount McKay Scenic Lookout, the site of the powwow grounds, on the warm and sunny afternoon.
Farrell-Morneau said the celebration is for all people, not just First Nations.
“It’s about celebrating our cultures, traditions and ceremonies and knowing all peoples are welcome to come enjoy and watch but also participate in the actual powwow,” she said.
The theme of this year’s celebration has honouring the men of the community, a fitting tribute with it falling on Father’s Day.
“It’s a beautiful day to be Aboriginal Day and to have Aboriginal Day on Father’s Day to recognize our fathers and the men who built our community,” Collins said.
