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Local students to take part in National Indigenous Peoples Day celebrations

Rocky Mountain House, AB, Canada / 94.5 Rewind Radio
Jordan Rein
Jun 19, 2024 | 10:33 AM
Local students to take part in National Indigenous Peoples Day celebrations


Students in the Wild Rose School Division (WRSD) will be taking time to observe National Indigenous Peoples Day celebrations on June 21.

Throughout the day, students will be ditching the books for a few hours, boarding busses, and converging on Curtis Field (5303 50 St, Rocky Mountain House) for a day of listening, learning and engaging in Indigenous Culture.

Organizer with the Asokewin Friendship Centre, Domenic Hill says students will be bussed in from around the division to partake in activities such as storytelling from elders, Indigenous traditional and modern games, face painting, and tipi raising among other activities.

Along with WRSD students from Rocky, Hill says busses will be arriving from Caroline, Condor, and Leslieville among other parts of the south end of the division.

“It’s always a good time to support the students and educate them from an early age on what National Indigenous Peoples Day stands for, and it’s always a good turnout,” says Hill.

The event will feature cultural activities for the students, say organizers, multicultural food vendors, the Town of Rocky Mountain House supporting gifts for the elders, and Clearwater County Fire Rescue Services serving freezies out of its fire trucks and more.

The events will run from around 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., says Hill, with the multicultural food tasting from from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Falling on the summer solstice, organizers say the day is a culmination of National Indigenous Peoples Month, and is not only a campaign to celebrate culture, but also bring awareness to society in the spirit of Truth and Reconciliation.

Later in the day, Hill says there will be a convoy type parade from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Curtis Field highlighting issues surrounding Murdered And Missing Indigenous People, Every Child Matters, and the Moose Hide Campaign for Indigenous Culture among other initiatives.

Hill adds in the evening, students are also encouraged to attend a large National Indigenous Peoples Day fireworks display at North Saskatchewan River Park, part of the O’Chiese Rocky Mountain Rodeo starting the same day. The fireworks start at 11 p.m.

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READ MORE: O’Chiese Rocky Mountain Rodeo Returns June 21-23

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“Wild Rose School Division staff and students will gather to learn, share and show respect,” says Billie-Jo Grant, Director of Indigenous Education for WRSD. “Together we can build a stronger more inclusive community. Our goal is that Indigenous Education happens everyday for everyone.”
Along with WRSD, the Asokewin Friendship Centre is supporting the event. Officials say the Rocky Mountain House organization’s mission is to bring cultures together in a meaningful way and create a space for people to have conversations around Indigenous history and worldviews.
Its offices are located at 4917 52 St.

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