Indigenous Event Alert: Happy Aboriginal Day!

Source: Canadian Heritage and here

To my Aboriginal and Native siblings everywhere, but particularly the Inuit, Métis, and First Nations people in Canada: Happy Aboriginal Day! May this day revitalise the Spirit of All Our relations.

A special hope for a day of celebration to Avi and Clifford. <3

What follows may be linked back to by clicking on the heading.

Happy National Aboriginal Day!

Today is the summer equinox, the longest day of the year, and officially recognized in Canada as National Aboriginal Day. For those of you who are Aboriginal (or native, Indian, Indigenous - OK, that's another blogpost), I'm sure every day is Aboriginal day, but it's still a nice gesture that the Governor General proclaimed this day, back in 1996 as an officially recognized day to celebrate our cultures.

So for those of you who have the day off to do just that, enjoy yourselves. For those who have to be at work, then at least spend a few minutes saying hello to all your Aboriginal friends, watch an Aboriginal film (Dances With Wolves doesn't count), attend a National Aboriginal Day event in your neighbourhood or find some other way to celebrate that won't get you or your boss in trouble.

We still have a long way to go; I am reminded of Ottawa comedian Don Kelly's great line: "Wonderful. We Aboriginal people get a whole day. In Ottawa, even the tulips get a week!"

But still - it's still a good day to be indigenous (or Indian or Aboriginal--OK, I know, enough already)

News:
From APTN's Aboriginal Day Live and Festival website. Please click on the article title below to link back.

APTN Announces 2011 Flag Contest Winner

Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN) is pleased to announce sixteen-year-old Taylor Vanasse is the winner of the fifth annual Aboriginal Day Live Flag Contest. Vanasse’s winning design was chosen from a total of 208 entries received from across Canada.

Vanasse, who resides in Plantagenet, Ontario, designed her flag to show the various Aboriginal cultures in Canada and some of their customs, beliefs and general ways of life. She wrote, “The inukshuk and dog sled represent Arctic tribes like the Inuit. The canoe, the water, the fish and the tipis represent hunting, transportation and shelter. The turtle depicts spirituality and also refers to the Iroquois creation story (Turtle Island – The Creation of North America). Finally, the eagle represents leadership and skill while the feathers are an ode to all Tribal Chiefs and Elders who provided wisdom and guidance to all who needed it. The earth is a symbol of togetherness.”

Her design will be officially unveiled during APTN’s Aboriginal Day Live show in celebration of National Aboriginal Day on Saturday, June 18, 2011. The show will be broadcast live across the nation from Winnipeg, Manitoba. As part of her prize, Vanasse will receive a trip to Winnipeg to be part of the Aboriginal Day Live celebrations and will also receive a cash prize of $500. Additionally, the Rockland District High School, where Vanasse attends, will receive $750 towards the purchase of learning materials.

The winning design will be made into a flag that will be flown above APTN headquarters in Winnipeg, replacing the one created by APTN Aboriginal Day Flag Contest 2010 winner, Dylan Willett. Mini versions of the flag will be distributed to the crowds attending APTN’s Aboriginal Day Live 2011 concert.

Entries from the 2011 contest can be seen on APTN’s Aboriginal Day Live Flag Contest web page or on display in the front window of APTN’s head office in Winnipeg.

Events are from the Vancouver Sun, *here*.

 

Brandy McCallum performs at Trout Lake.

Photograph by: Handout, Files

National Aboriginal Day events today include a free pancake breakfast at 8:30 a.m. at Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre, 1607 E. Hastings.

At 11 a.m., a parade will leave the centre and head along Commercial Drive to Trout Lake where a community celebration takes place from noon to 5 p.m. Performers include Akachuk Children Hoop Dancers and Brandy McCallum. There will also be a teepee village, powwow dancing, arts and crafts tables, a resource fair and canoeing. Organizers expect to feed at least 1,200 people hamburgers and hotdogs during the free community lunch. Details at www.bcnationalaboriginalday.com

At Oppenheimer Park, 400 Powell, free events start at 11 a.m. and go to 4 p.m. Performances take place all day by groups ranging from Harmony of Nations and Ricky Lavallee to Sonny B and Sitting Still Thunder Drum Group. Details: (604) 253-8830.

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