(Jaryn Vecchio/paNOW Staff)

By Jaryn Vecchio

Indigenous Culture

P.A. celebrates Indigenous culture at Carlton Comprehensive High School

Sep 24, 2021 | 1:13 PM

A day full of celebration and learning is taking place at Prince Albert’s Carlton Comprehensive Public High School.

‘Indigenous Day’ is happening on Friday where students, staff, and members of the public are being welcomed to come out and learn more about the history and culture of the First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples.

This is the first time in two years the school has hosted the event due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

It also comes after thousands of unmarked graves of children who attended former residential schools were discovered in different parts of Canada.

“This is a very important day for us to honour those who’ve attended residential schools and to honour those children that didn’t make it home,” said Russ Mirasty, Saskatchewan’s Lieutenant Governor who spoke at the opening ceremony for Carlton’s ‘Indigenous Day.’

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“It’s a difficult part of our history that we have to acknowledge.”

P.A. Mayor Greg Dionne also spoke at the ceremony, highlighting the large population of Indigenous people who call the community home.

During the 2016 census, 42 per cent of residents claimed they were Indigenous. Dionne believes the 2021 census, which was completed earlier this year, will have that number as high as 50 per cent.

“We’re a community of all cultures and we welcome everyone to our community,” he said.

The day was also bittersweet for many in attendance as former event organizer and Carlton teacher Victor Thunderchild passed away from COVID-19 earlier this year.

Long-time friend Kelly Klassen, who spoke on behalf of Thunderchild’s family, said he would have been excited to see so many people take an interest in Indigenous culture.

“For this day to happen where there’s going to be kids in classrooms learning about the culture and storytelling, I think he’s smiling somewhere.”

It’s also a bag of mixed emotions for Carlton’s principal Jeff Court.

Underneath his jacket was a ribbon shirt he was given as a gift by Thunderchild.

“Victor was a trusted colleague of ours but more importantly an advocate for Indigenous youth and the students and culture within our school,” Court said.

Different activities are happening during the event including powwow dancing, cultural workshops, and a concert.

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Jaryn.Vecchio@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @princealbertnow