It’s a time to honour unique Indigenous cultures of the North, said North Slave Métis Alliance Chief Marc Whitford and Dene National Chief George Mackenzie at the Indigenous Peoples Day celebration and famed fish fry in Sambe K’e Park.
Indigenous Day celebrations in the city of Yellowknife first began in 1996, when the territories became the first in the country to recognize June 21, Indigenous Peoples Day, as a formal holiday.
Chief Mackenzie spoke about the significance of the summer solstice for Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21 as being connected to renewed life and strength.
“Today, on this special occasion of the summer, the longest day, we stand together to honour our people who have lived on this land since time immemorial. This land we walk on is rich with stories, our history, Aboriginal history. As Aboriginal people, we must embrace and celebrate that history not only on this land, but with each other,” said Chief Mackenzie, whose voice could be heard over the loud buzz of a bush pilot plane flying overhead.
Chief Mackenzie and Chief Whitford both emphasized the importance of unity.
“No matter what, no matter where you are, no matter who you speak to, we are all the same people, we are all the children of God. This is how we’re going to live in the Northwest Territories, so for each other, no matter what kind of nationality we have. If we do that, the Northwest Territories will be that much stronger,” said Chief Mackenzie.
In response, the crowd applauded loudly.
Chief Whitford said he continues to work to build bridges with Indigenous leadership and the GNWT.
“One of our key desires and efforts, and we continue to reach out in doing. So we have much to say to each other but even more to do together, and I pledge to do that, I will continue to honour that.”
Chief Mackenzie spoke about the ways that honouring Indigenous culture and traditions is also about acknowledging differences while also recognizing the common threads
“It is a day where we acknowledge our differences while also recognizing the common threads that unite us in a spirit of Reconciliation and renewal. This is a day to recognize our strength, our resilience in our unwavering commitment to build a better future. How better can it be if we as the Aboriginal people of the North, we today and into the future, if we help each other, make as one force. For the young generations of tomorrow, our young generations of tomorrow, who will be running things in the future.”
Chief George Mackenzie emphasized the importance of supporting youth.
“It’s important that our young people have a chance to be the best that they can be in their education, anywhere wherever they are, whatever they study and at the same time they have to be as strong as they can be in their language, their culture and their way of life. We’ve heard that many times, it’s called like strong two, strong like two people even though we are one people. This is the message we have to give to our young people in the Aboriginal world into the future and we need support. We don’t really have as much education as non-Aboriginal people. We need their support, we need their help to get our young generations into the future and this is what I think this celebration is all about for me,” said Chief Mackenzie.
“We experienced the longest day of the year, there will be more today than on any other day. To me, this is the symbol of hope and hard work that lies ahead of us,” added Chief Mackenzie.
Chief Mackenzie and Chief Whitford were joined by other leaders, including Mayor Ben Hendriksen, who addressed the crowd before the celebrations began.
Mayor Hendriksen called attention to the importance of honouring the cultures, traditions and contributions of Indigenous people across Yellowknife, N.W.T. and Canada as a community.
“For all of us, it’s also a time to come together as a community to share stories. Enjoy the amazing food you’re going to get today. And celebrate the strength and community leadership of the Indigenous peoples of the North and our country,” said Hendriksen.
Edmonton Metis Traditional Dancers, along with James Ross, an accomplished fiddler, the Dene Drummers and DerRic Starlight were among the artists who led the festivities.
The Edmonton Metis Traditional Dancers bring together four generations of the Donald family, including grandfather, sons, daughters, grandchildren and even great-grandchildren.
The group has amassed show dances that highlight their fiercely gorgeous stepping ability in dances like the Broom Dance and the Sash Dance.
Lyle Donald explained that his mother started the group back in 1985, and have been touring around the country for decades. This Fall will be their 40-year anniversary.
“We carry the generational method of learning what my dad taught us back in the kitchen. My dad used to teach us in the kitchen every Saturday and Sunday afternoon,” explained Donald.
Donald remembered how his father would have a fiddle in the kitchen; whoever happened to walk in there would have to dance with him
“And then, you didn’t get a reprieve until one of the brothers or sisters came in, and then he grabbed them, and then you could sneak out and grab whatever you wanted to get in the first place,” said Donald.
This was their 14-year anniversary of attending the Indigenous Day celebration in Somba K’e Park.
The group began with a dance called the Reel of Fourm, with Donald telling the story behind the dance.
“As Metis people, we are mixed blood people, and our first bloodlines come from our First Nation side,” he explained.
The infinity sign on their shirts symbolizes the complexity and connectedness of Metis identity.
“The Infinity sign means two things: Metis forever, and it means the mixing of two bloods, the mixing of two cultures, and that’s who we are,” said Donald before introducing the Four Reel Dance.
“All of these Scots and French people wanted to teach their kids, the culture from their countries, but a lot of times they didn’t have enough people in the group to do the full set. So they had to improvise, they tried to use less dancers, but tried to make the dances look similar to the original dances. So when they made those similar dances, those became Metis dances. So instead of a Reel of Eight or the Eighth Real, which was what the Scots did, we made a Reel of Four.”
The Reel of Four is similar to the Eighth Reel, but it’s also very similar to our Red River Jig, the Metis national anthem, explained Donald before performing the energetic dance with three other dancers. The dancers moved quickly, weaving in and out of the stage area in energetic steps and waves of red and blue fabric. The interactive motion of the dancers, weaving in and out of each other’s path, seemed to trace the motion and shape of the infinity sign, the symbol of Metis identity. As the dancers completed the set, the crowd cheered loudly.
Donald introduced the next dance, telling the story behind the Dance, which also has roots in the Scottish Sword Dance.
“These two trappers were on the trapline. One was a fiddle player, and the other guy was a dancer. So when they met on the trap line, the guy with the fiddle said, ‘Hey, why don’t you come to my cabin? I’ll cook you supper and we can play some music and have a good time.’ “
The men had food and a bit to drink before the fiddler picked up his fiddle and began to play.
“This dancer got up and he danced quite a bit of the night, but in the morning he wanted to show his appreciation for staying over and having supper. So he got up and started sweeping the floor and cleaning up around the cabin for his buddy that invited him over. And as he was sweeping the floor, this guy got on the fiddle and he played a tune. Now, when the tune changed, He put the broom between his legs,” Donald says while demonstrating the quick motion of sweeping each leg over the broom.
“When he started putting it between his legs. What he didn’t realize was he was making that Infinity sign,” said Donald with that each dancer took a turn to perform the Broom Dance.
The second part of the dance is derived from an old Scottish Sword Dance..
“Back in the 1600s, the Scots used to go to battle and go to war. And all they had were these swords and shields back then. And a couple of bows and arrows. So, these were the main battling weapons and after a battle and after a victory, they’d have a big celebration. They would have lots to eat. They’d have a big Feast, just like we’re having here today, with the fish fry, and then they’d have a few drinks.”
Donald explained that the men would lay their swords down and they would dance around the swords, but hen the bagpipes would change their tune, they’d crossover their legs. Donald demonstrates the motion for the crowd before the other dancers join him.
“All the crossovers that they did meant how many people they killed in battle; it was their bragging rights,” said Donald.
Each dancer took turns dancing using the broom. Donald’s great-grandson led the next dance, the Red River Jig, before the audience was invited to join the dancers for the Friendship Dance.
After the Friendship Dance, the Dene Drummers then joined the festivities.
Bobby Drygeese of the Dene Drummers began by telling stories about the history of the Dene who travelled across the region, much like many had travelled from afar to attend the festival.
Drygeese explains that the Dene Drummer come from all over the Great Slave region,all over Chief Drygeese territories from the to Boundary Creek going up to the tundra right down towards Artillery Lake, down to Lonely Bay towards Fort Providence.
“We’re always out travelling we’re always hunting and gathering out in the land, collecting medicine and everything else,” he told the crowd.
The Elders have long taught communities about hunting and where the best places are for hunting and gathering and also spots to stay away from to stay out of danger.
“A Long time ago there were no stores here, no hospitals no schools and everybody travelled with their families and the families took care of each other,” said Drygeese.
“We’re always doing that, making sure we are out on the land, making sure that everything is safe. We’re teaching our kids, teaching our grandkids,” he added.
The Dene Drummers began with Prayer Songs, which are a way of giving thanks to the Creator and the Ancestors, explained Drygeese.
“(The Prayer Songs) are singing about angels and the sky watching over us and when the Elder made that song a long time ago, when he was out in the bush,” said Drygeese.
“He was walking and he asked for help and he asked for guidance and he made sure that everybody was safe and he made sure everybody was taken care of. He always had to make sure to ask the angel for help and the creator for help,” he continued.
The Dene Drummers then began the Drum Dance songs with the Welcome Song, which saw hundreds of people make their way to join them, forming a Round Dance, moving in a clockwise motion.
Drygeese told the crowd that the Drum Dances are a way to celebrate life together
“For us, it’s every day, so come in celebrating with us.”
The Welcome Song is a song about welcoming people from out of town, explained Drygees. With this song, people who are visiting from out of town will dance in the middle.
Drygeese pointed out that people were visiting from all over the territories and even beyond to attend the festivities and invited everyone to come to dance and celebrate life together. He explains that this is how it has been for thousands of years for the Dene.
Donald, fresh from completing an hour-long show with the Edmonton Métis Dancers, was dancing up a storm along with others in the middle of the Round Dance formation.
“People come together, celebrate together, we have fun together, and we make sure that we share, we share what we have, we share the land so people can kindly gather on their own but always be respectful,” urged Drygeese.
And even as a rare Yellowknife rain began falling, hundreds of people continued to dance.
