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Ponoka celebrates Aboriginal culture

The rich and vibrant culture of Aboriginal people will be celebrated with drums and dancing at the Lion’s Centennial Park on June 20. The park will be filled with large teepees and there will be many ceremonial dances. The Traditional PowWow Demonstration will be from 12 to 3 p.m with the grand entry beginning at 12:15 p.m.

By Eraina Hooyer

Staff Reporter

The rich and vibrant culture of Aboriginal people will be celebrated with drums and dancing at the Lion’s Centennial Park on June 20.

The park will be filled with large teepees and there will be many ceremonial dances.

The Traditional PowWow Demonstration will be from 12 to 3 p.m with the grand entry beginning at 12:15 p.m.

There will be a drum song, a grand entry, intertribals traditional song and dance and many other dances such as a grass dance demonstration, a golden age men and women demonstration. The women will be doing a ladies traditional dance, fancy dance and jingle dance demonstration. The men will be educating the public with a fancy dance, chicken dance and traditional dance demonstration. There will also be a hoop dance and a last person standing trick songs competition.

The public has an opportunity to immerse themselves in the culture and everyone can participate in the intertribal dances. Information of the different dance categories will be provided that day.

First proclaimed by the Governor General of Canada in 1996, June 21 of each year has become a day that represents Aboriginal peoples with a great opportunity to express pride for diverse cultures.

Everyone is encouraged to bring their lawn chairs and watch and participate in this National celebration. In case of unfavorable weather, the event will be moved indoors to the Ponoka Culture and Recreation Centre.

Aboriginal Day celebrates the heritage, cultures and contributions that First Nations, Metis and Inuit peoples have made to the country and the province.