Shane Bird speaks to Prince Albert City Council about his hopes to build a way to help local youth stay healthy and reject bad lifestyle choices. (Susan McNeil/paNOW)

By Susan McNeil

Inspiring change

Movement underway to create ceremonial grounds at Little Red River Park

May 2, 2024 | 5:00 PM

The Prince Albert Indian & Métis Friendship Centre got the full support of city councillors when they pitched an idea to create a ceremonial grounds at Little Red River Park.

Shane Bird told council that making sure the grounds become a reality is something he has promised to do to stop the pain he sees in Indigenous youth. He wakes up every day thinking about their situations.

“The ones that are traumatized with abuse, with physical, sexual abuse. I know that every day that there’s no change or no support for them, it hurts. It hurts my heart, my spirit,” he said.

He wants to see change and has committed to making the change happen in the strongest way possible – through ceremony.

“I made that commitment that I have to follow through because, in our ways of life, if I don’t follow through something could not only happen to me but to my family,” Bird said.

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“I have to make sure I see this through in my time.”

He created a proposal and is looking for partners to help make it a reality.

Bird proposed the marked area as a good location for the ceremonial grounds. (screen shot/Council agenda)

Bird said that the number of youth considered at risk in Prince Albert is growing.

This year, Bird is hoping to create a committee and get commitment for funding or donations from interested organizations, including the City of Prince Albert.

He also hopes to have a sweat lodge built for the summer.

His plans are not limited to that, however. They also include a traditional arbour, and a low impact camping area (tents).

The various buildings and changes such as relocating power lines and digging a well, expanding roads and building the staging area, lodge and bathrooms will cost about $1.6 million for the first phase.

Bird’s dream is to also have a ceremonial hall, RV and trailer sites, and an information building. That part will be almost $11 million, he estimated.

Councillors spoke in favour of Bird’s plan but have not yet been presented with a request to provide any sort of funding.

An offer was made to write letters of support for funding for other organizations or governments.

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susan.mcneil@pattisonmedia.com