Thoughts on National Indigenous Peoples' Day
Submitted by Melanie Peters Bright
Hello from the deep southwest region of Alberta! National Indigenous Peoples' Day is Sunday, June 21st. Here in the Crowsnest Pass, we are holding a come-and-go event at our office on June 18th. Has your CALP thought about doing something to hold space and draw attention to this important day? As a Métis woman, I find that these days can sometimes get lost in the busyness of June. We're trying to get our Annual Reports done, thank all our volunteers and instructors, juggle all the year-end school activities if we've got kiddos still in school — the list goes on.
From my perspective, it's important to take a moment to reflect. Who walked the land under our feet before we did? What was the land used for? For example, my area is home to the Blackfoot, Cree, Ktunaxa, and Métis peoples, just to name a few. The Crowsnest Pass served as a crucial natural highway connecting the Great Plains to the Pacific coast. Indigenous groups used this route for seasonal hunting, trade, and cultural exchange. Crowsnest Cave, found near Crowsnest Lake, is a recognized site historically used by the Blackfoot for vision quests. It contains one of the largest single pictograph collections in Alberta.
It's amazing what you can learn about the land you live on if you take a moment to reflect and research. Consider the native plants that grow around you. What were they traditionally used for? Medicine? Clothing? Have I got you thinking now? I'd suggest doing a bit of investigation into these questions and then sharing the information in your offices or classrooms. Wouldn't it be great to ignite conversations with your learners about who historically walked the land you're on? Having this information up and visible may also help Indigenous folks who come into your space feel more comfortable and spark even more conversation.
On June 1st, the first in-person meeting of the Indigenous Sharing Circle took place in Red Deer. It was an empowering day of knowledge sharing and creating deeper bonds with others. We laughed, learned, and shared our successes and challenges. The support I felt was amazing! I’ve attached our ‘formal’ photo and our Charlie’s Angels pose! Oh, we laughed!
Thank you all for reading my very first blog post! Have a wonderful summer!
