St. Albert’s National Indigenous Peoples’ Day celebration is no more, say its organizers. But there are still plenty of ways for city residents to learn more about Canada’s First Peoples this month.
The Gazette confirmed earlier this month that St. Albert will not hold a National Indigenous Peoples Day Festival this year. National Indigenous People’s Day is June 21, while June is Indigenous History Month.
The festival has highlighted St. Albert’s First Nations, Inuit, and Métis populations every year since 2009 save for a two-year pandemic-related break in 2020 and 2021.
Marc Parent, president of the St. Albert National Aboriginal Day Society, said he and society co-founder Gwen Crouse decided to disband the group and cancel this year’s festival in May because they no longer had the time or energy to commit to it.
“We’ve done it a lot of years, and we’re just kind of burnt out,” Parent said.
“If we can’t make it the best we can make it, we don’t want to do it.”
Parent said he hoped another group of volunteers would revive the festival in the future, as it gave people a great time and helped them learn more about Indigenous peoples.
Long-time festival volunteer Ryan Arcand said he was deeply disappointed by the cancellation.
“It breaks my heart, and I’m sad about it.”
Florence Gaucher, who for many years has organized the festival’s Métis entertainment, said she could pull together a festival on short notice should anyone step up to organize one.
“St. Albert has always been a strong Métis community. There shouldn’t be any reason for us not to proceed with it,” she said of the festival.
In an email, City of St. Albert spokesperson Cory Sinclair said the city would not be doing a flag raising ceremony to mark National Indigenous People’s Day this year. (The Treaty Six and Métis flags are on permanent display at St. Albert Place.) The city looked forward to supporting the Indigenous day festival in the future.
Area alternatives
St. Albert residents can take in Morinville’s Indigenous Peoples Day celebration June 21 starting at 9:30 a.m. at Morinville Public School (10020 101 Ave.) The free event will feature teepee teachings and First Nations drumming and dancing. Call 780-939-7832 for details.
The City of Edmonton’s Indigenous History Month website has a long list of activities related to Indigenous Peoples Day happening in and around Alberta’s capital. Some of those activities are at The Telus World of Science Edmonton, which is offering free admission for Indigenous peoples on June 21. Guests can witness a smudge ceremony, teepee raising, and a lighting of the Qulliq (a traditional Inuit oil lamp) that day outdoors, then head indoors to learn about Cree astronomy and sample aqpiq (cloudberry) liquid-nitrogen ice cream.
Closer to home, St. Albert residents can learn about Indigenous history at the Musée Héritage Museum, which has a new display on Indigenous identity, said Arts and Heritage Foundation of St. Albert spokesperson Shawna Randolph. Up at the Historic River Lots & Grain Elevators on Meadowview Drive, guests can tour the Dr. Anne Anderson Memorial Herb Garden and hear University of Alberta anthropologist Kisha Supernant talk about Métis history on June 21. (Supernant’s talk costs $5. Search for “Métis Trash Talking” on the Arts and Heritage St. Albert website to register.)
Library art
Residents can also check out paintings and 3D-printed jewelry by Indigenous artists Penelope Moon Walker, Florence Shone, and Lorisia MacLeod at the St. Albert Public Library this month, said library public services manager Stephanie Foremsky.
“Lorisia’s artwork is super unique,” she said, as it combines traditional Cree syllabics and symbols with modern technology.
In an email, MacLeod, a member of the James Smith Cree Nation, said she got into 3D printing about five years ago while she was working at a library that had a 3D printer.
“I spent a weekend teaching myself how to design, specifically to design Cree syllabics inspired by the magnetic alphabets I used to play with as a kid,” she said, adding that she wanted to create an affordable way for people to add Cree to their lives.
MacLeod said she uses traditional beadwork and 3D printing in her designs, many of which are inspired by nature, her friends, and Dungeons and Dragons. 3D printing gives her another medium to enjoy and a way to realize designs that aren’t feasible with beads.
MacLeod said one of her favourite designs was the beaded library books.
“I’m a third-generation librarian so it may seem like an obvious design for me, but it actually took months of trial and error to get it to look the way I wanted.”
MacLeod said this showcase in St. Albert gives people a glimpse into the wide world of Indigenous art.
“I think showcasing Indigenous art is important because it reminds people that we are still here —we are living cultures that continue develop and create,” she said.
Foremsky said this art display will run from June 1 to 27.
