Nations of Quesnel celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day

A blessed Sunday graced all the nations and people as they celebrated National Indigenous Peoples Day and Father’s Day in Quesnel.

The celebration was organized and put on by the Quesnel Tillicum Society, with many First Nations and organizations in the area coming out to participate.

“This is an important day for our heritage, our culture, and our traditional ways of learning,” says Tony Goulet, Executive Director of the Quesnel Tillicum Society. “ It’s an important day for us to share that with the community. I think that’s really important. Going to a National Indigenous Peoples Day was quite a change from just Aboriginal Day from a long time ago. We’ve now gone across Canada, so it’s showing that we’re united right across the entire country.”

 

The day started with Goulet’s opening remarks on the importance of the Day. Celebrating the achievements of Indigenous People and the contributions they have made across Canada. While also taking the time to recognize the challenges Indigenous peoples have faced throughout Canada’s and their own histories.

“It just lifts my spirit to come here to meet other indigenous people. We get along together, especially we get along with the non-native people,” says Elder Bryant Paul of the Lhtako Dene Nation. “We invite them to come also, and join us in our drumming, dancing, and singing. That’s how we get along together nowadays. It’s a good day for that, and for healing, and enjoying and celebrating each other’s company.”

After the opening remarks drummers and dancers performed multiple songs. Indigenous vendors and booths were open for people to learn about the traditional ways, such as medicine pouches. Water-washable tattoos in the Carrier art by the Echen Healing Society, free food, and bannock by both the Nazko and Lhatko Dene Nations.

 

 

“Days like today, and taking time to see how far we have come,  it’s really important with reconciliation and how we move forward with things,” said Goulet. “How we do it together. I think that was the message of the opening, and the message of today.”

To top off a day of celebration, after the opening ceremony off, Bryant Paul spotted an eagle flying over Quesnel and the Helen Dixon Centre. A sign, according to Bryant, of a great day ahead of everyone.