A ceremonial teepee was erected in Kinsmen Park as part of National Indigenous People's Day. (paNOW Staff/ Ronald Quaroni)

By Ronald Quaroni

National Indigenous People's Day

Teepee raising and pipe ceremony kick off the National Indigenous People’s Day in Prince Albert

Jun 21, 2019 | 12:14 PM

June 21 officially marks National Indigenous People’s Day and locally people are celebrating.

The Prince Albert Indian Métis Friendship Centre will host an all-day event at Prince Albert’s Kinsmen Park to mark the occasion.

“If they can have that pride and understanding where they come from, that’s huge.”_{Tanya Vancoughnett, teacher at Wesmor Public High School}

Part of the event included the raising of a ceremonial teepee and pipe ceremony Friday morning. A handful of indigenous members of the Grade 12 class at Wesmor Public High School were able to help with set-up.

“It’s a chance we don’t always have, and especially for National Indigenous People’s Day, it’s very important for them (the students) to realize the importance of this,” Tanya Vancoughnett, teacher at Wesmor Public High School.

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“Understanding who you are is the biggest thing I’m trying to teach them, to be proud of who they are and where they come from,” Vancoughnett said. “They have a lot of struggles and if they can have that pride and understanding where they come from, that’s huge.”

Students from Wesmor Public High School assist in setting up the teepee from National Indigenous People’s Day in Prince Albert. (Ronald Quaroni/paNOW Staff)

Events continue throughout the day at Kinsmen Park.

Opening ceremonies get underway at 2 p.m. with a wide variety of entertainment and activities to take in, including; square dancers, powwow demonstrations, artisan boots, and activities for the kids.

Students from Wesmor Public High School assist in setting up the teepee from National Indigenous People’s Day in Prince Albert. (Ronald Quaroni/paNOW Staff)

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Ron.quaroni@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @RonaldQuaroni