National Indigenous Peoples Day returns to St. Albert this week after a one-year absence.
The City of St. Albert will host a National Indigenous Peoples Day celebration this June 21 at St. Albert Place from 2 to 5 p.m.
June 21 is National Indigenous Peoples Day, and June is National Indigenous History Month.
St. Albert was host to a National Indigenous Peoples Day Festival from 2009 to 2019 and in 2022 (the 2020 and 2021 festivals were cancelled because of the pandemic). Organized by the St. Albert National Aboriginal Day Society, the festival vanished last year when the society folded.
The city decided to host a free one-off replacement festival this year with the help of the St. Albert Public Library and area Indigenous groups, city Indigenous relations co-ordinator Samantha Atkinson said in an email. The festival will feature a traditional First Nations drum song and dance by St. Albert resident Ryan Arcand and a Métis song performed by local students. Atkinson also hopes to have some Métis fiddlers and jiggers at the event.
Arcand, who has performed at Indigenous-related events in St. Albert for many years, said he instantly agreed to help with this year’s festival when the city asked.
“Not having one last year, it kind of frustrated me,” he said, adding he has received many calls from Indigenous artists asking about the festival.
Library spokesperson Mary Ellen Green said librarians will fan out to St. Albert schools on June 21 to read tales from the three reading lists they set up for National Indigenous History Month. Indigenous Peoples Day guests can complete colouring pages inside the library and check out the Trail Tale outside. Also in the library will be paintings by Indigenous artists Linda Wright and Esta Bee (both of whom will be at the library’s Community Tea and Bannock event on June 25) and book displays on Indigenous history.
Arcand said Indigenous Peoples Day was a chance to break down barriers and get to know your Indigenous neighbours.
“Come on out and have some fun with us," he said.
Students celebrate
St. Albert and Sturgeon County students will hold Indigenous Day celebrations of their own this June 21, with activities planned at many schools.
Sturgeon Composite will host some 680 students this Friday as part of Sturgeon Public’s first-ever division-wide Indigenous Day event, said district director of education planning Shannon Requa. Hosted by Conway Kootenay, students will take part in 13 Indigenous-themed activities, including beading, powwow dancing, bannock making, and (through the Musée Héritage Museum) Métis finger weaving. Elders from Alexander First Nation will also share cultural teachings inside the school’s teepee.
Requa said the district hopes to make the celebration an annual event.
