Saskatoon Folkfest announced its 2019 honourary ambassador for the 40th annual event scheduled for August.
The announcement came on June 21, which is also National Indigenous Peoples Day, and Saskatoon Tribal Chief Mark Arcand will be holding the ambassador title.
“I was really humbled by the nomination,” says Chief Arcand. “I believe it’s based on the work I’m doing in the city of Saskatoon, of building partnerships and relationships with cultural and diversity organizations to make sure all people have a good quality of life, especially First Nations people.”
The honourary ambassador is selected on their commitment to voluntarism and community service in Saskatoon. The ambassador will visit each pavilion during the three-day event. This year, there will be over 20 pavilions that showcase global cultures through traditional song, dance and entertainment, as well as diverse foods will be available for purchase.
“What I am most excited about it actually getting to visit all of the pavilions and learn about other cultures because people want to learn about First Nations culture and what we do in Treaty 6 territory,” says Arcand.
At the Indian and Métis pavilion, visitors will find traditional entertainment, including powwow, roundance, Red River Jigs and hoops dance. Warm bannock, traditional art and jewelry will also be available.
After snacking on bannock, visitors can visit Germany for schnitzel and wash it down with a pint of Guinness from Ireland. Next, they can hop over the pond for Caribbean jerk chicken and finish it with a samosa from Pakistan.
“Look at the playground where kindergarten kids are going to school,” explains Chief Arcand. “They don’t know race, they don’t know culture and they don’t know identity. They are all just having fun. That is what we need to get back to.”
Chief Arcand is only First Nations leader to be selected as the honourary ambassador, however in 2001 and 2009, the ambassadors were First Nations peoples who did lots of community work for the city. Last year, Leela Sharma, who is heavily involved in the Hindu Society of Saskatchewan, held the title.
The Indian and Métis pavilion has been in existence since the festivals second year in 1981. Visitors can purchase a passport that will grant them access to the three-day events and kids will receive a passport that they can collect stamps in after they visit the pavilion.
The event takes place from Aug. 15-17 and with the purchase of a passport transportation to and from the pavilions will be included. This year the Indian and Métis pavilion will be downtown, and the rest will be located on the east side.
STC Tribal Chief Arcand leads seven First Nations and represents over 13,000 people within a 200-kilometre radius of Saskatoon. He is a member of Muskeg Lake Cree Nation.
(PHOTO: STC Tribal Chief Arcand. Photo courtesy of Stobbe Photo.)