Indigenous Peoples Day celebration moves to Riverbank Discovery Centre

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This article was published 20/06/2018 (2810 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Brandon’s National Indigenous Peoples Day celebration is moving to a new venue this year, as the event continues to expand with more participants and activities.

The event will take place Thursday at the Riverbank Discovery Centre from noon to 8 p.m.

“We’re just so excited to not only share the entertainment that we have on the stage, but to share the teachings that we have as Indigenous peoples, through the artifact displays, and just those moments of being together on the land,” said Jason Gobeil, Aboriginal community co-ordinator with Brandon Urban Aboriginal Peoples Council.

For the last few years, the local event was held on the École New Era School grounds, but Gobeil said they were bursting at the seams. More people from Brandon and the surrounding communities were flocking to take part in the special day.

“We knew we had to grow, we knew that parking was an issue, so we thought … let’s find an area where there’s lots of space that we can park, and lots more space for … our activities.”

June 21 marks the 22nd anniversary of celebrating National Indigenous Peoples Day in Canada, formerly known as National Aboriginal Day. Gobeil estimates Brandon has held its own event for at least the past 14 years. It is a time for Canadians to recognize and celebrate the unique heritage, diverse cultures and contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples.

“The main goal is just to come together,” Gobeil said. “There are so many times where we see a lot of Indigenous news in our media — locally, nationally, provincially, all across the board. This is one of those times where we get to celebrate, and we get to truly learn from each other about what those Indigenous values really are.”

The event kicks off at noon with opening ceremonies, followed by the Sweet Medicine Singers at 12:30 p.m. Mitchell Mozdzen takes the stage at 12:45 p.m. and Emilie McKinney will perform hoop dancing at 1 p.m. A full line up of entertainment is scheduled until 8 p.m.

Included this year are throat singers, a tipi village, kids zone, artifact displays, pow wow demonstrations, square dancing, as well as art/craft vendors and food trucks.

Prior to the celebration, there will be a special ceremony at the site at 9 a.m. It will officially mark the Riverbank Discovery Centre as the third location for a tipi installation, as part of the Tipi Tour Legacy Project. The other locations in the city are in front of Brandon Police Service headquarters and Brandon City Hall.

“This one’s going to be dedicated to the elements — wind, water, fire and earth,” Gobeil said. “It’s another opportunity for us to make that connection and that commitment, not only just to our land but to each other as individuals, as we learn what it is to work amongst each other and live together.”

In preparation for Thursday’s tipi village, organizers are hosting a Corporate Tipi Challenge today from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Riverbank Discovery Centre. Eight corporate sponsors of the event will bring out teams to learn how to assemble a tipi.

“Not only is it going to be fun, it’s going to be educational,” Gobeil said. “It’s going to be just one of those times where we truly support each other as community. And again, when we connect on the land, it takes away all those hesitations of being in an office surrounded by four walls. This gives us a chance to really just get back to our elements, and be kids again.”

This year’s teams include the City of Brandon, IANE Westman, Prairie Mountain Health, Brandon Police Services, Assiniboine Community College, Brandon University, Brandon Friendship Centre, and the Manitoba Metis Federation Southwest Region.

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