National Indigenous People’s Day Celebration in Regina’s Downtown

Photo of: Reign Carrier from Piapot First Nations performed the Men’s Traditional Dance at this year’s National Indigenous People’s Day event in Regina

Photo by: Danielle Dufour

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BY: Danielle Dufour

Thousands of people came out to enjoy the National Indigenous People’s Day event held in Victoria park in downtown Regina.

The sun was out and it was a perfect day for the community to come out and support this event.

There were numerous dancers, musicians, vendors and activities.

Many special dignitaries were also in attendance.

 

Christa Belhumeur, from the Muscowpetung First Nation, is a teacher at Cornwall Alternative school and brought her students to the event.

“I am happy to bring my students, and we came to support one of the dancers (shown in a picture above – Reign Carrier), he goes to our school,” said Belhumeur. “It’s a nice way to see people that you are related to and see people enjoying the day that might not be able to see things like this every day, and it brings awareness and an understanding of an Indigenous way of knowing.”

She brings her students out to events like this, then talks about what they learned or observed back in the classroom.

One of the mandates at the school is to incorporate Indigenous culture and awareness.

Belhumeur estimates 80 per cent of the student population at the school is Indigenous.

There was an abundance of activities for everyone to enjoy.

For children, they were able to participate in learning centers including ribbon skirt designs, Indigenous sports, and Tipi building.

 

 

Saskatchewan’s Lieutenant Governor Bernadette McIntyre attended the event.

She was wearing a special outfit designed by Tracy George Heese, from the Ochapowace First Nation. She was part of the sixties scoop.

“Tracey made this beautiful ribbon skirt then she surprised me with a jean jacket to match,” said Lieutenant Governor Bernadette McIntyre.

“She told me she loved pink, so I brought different samples of pink then together we created this,” said George Heese.

The Lieutenant Governor Bernadette McIntyre said that women will appreciate that there are pockets built into the skirt.

This is the second skirt George Heese has made for the Lieutenant Governor.

“She also made me a beautiful cape with dentalium,” said Lieutenant Governor Bernadette McIntyre. “The cape I wore when I met the King in Ottawa.”

George Heese explained that dentalium was used as a form of currency for trading in First Nation culture.

The beading on the cape was crocuses which Lieutenant Governor Bernadette McIntyre said, “Is my favourite prairie flower.”

 

Dan Dongworth, from Regina, met Jack Dublanica 25 years ago.

“My family is from Willow Bunch,” said Dongworth. “My grandfather was a fiddle player, and my uncles played the guitar.”

Dongworth can remember when he was a child looking over the table and seeing his mom, aunties and grandmother jigging in the kitchen.

“Me and my cousin would watch Grandpa’s feet under the table,” said Dongworth.

Dublanica taught Dongworth all the Metis tunes they play together.

“It’s a gift. Jack gave me this gift,” said Dongworth. “It gives you a sense of being, who you are, where you’re from.”

Everyone got to experience an Indigenous delicacy and taste a piece of Bannock for free.

“It’s an incredible opportunity to celebrate our Indigenous people, our Indigenous communities,” said Mayor Chad Bachynski. “To have everybody come together to share in culture and food and teachings, it’s incredible and you can see the entire communities come out and it’s great to see everybody come together and it really speaks to what Regina’s all about.”