Area celebrates with help of first peoples

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On Oct. 4, the town of Lac La Biche celebrated the 200th anniversary of the arrival of explorer David Thompson to the area, but no one forgot to honor the people that Thompson first encountered there, the Metis and First Nations.

"Two hundred years is a long time, but I think what people have to realize is that before David Thompson arrived here, there were Metis people here," said Audrey Poitras, president of the Metis Nation of Alberta. Poitras was one of the special guests invited to take part in the 200th anniversary event.

Poitras used the opportunity to present a Metis sash to another dignitary making the trip to the northeastern Alberta town, provincial Liberal Party Leader Nancy MacBeth. Poitras said the sash was presented to MacBeth to help create awareness of the Metis people and the role they play and have played in society.

"Although the role we played in the opening up and settlement of western Canada may not always be recognized, I, as the president of the Metis nation, welcome every opportunity to share with others just who we are," said Poitras. "We believe in ourselves as a nation, and we also believe we need to work with all other nations as well. Partnerships are very important."

The presentation was a surprise to the Liberal leader.

"When they said that they wanted to present me with the sash, I was just thrilled because I didn't know it before I came," she said.

MacBeth said she understood the role of the Metis and francophone people of the province and was honored to be presented with a sash.

"The history of our province is so much a part of what brings us to where we are today," she said. "The Metis and the fur trade was so much a part Alberta's development originally."

Standing in the shadow of a huge statue depicting David Thompson, one of his men and an Aboriginal guide in a canoe, Beaver-Lake First Nation Elder Philip Cardinal asked people to remember the role that Aboriginal people played before western settlement and on through the history of Canadian society.

"We go far back, my friends. Two hundred years we've been with you people on the map. Beyond that, my people were here," said Cardinal to a crowd of 800 people attending the unveiling of the huge statue. "I welcome all of you today on behalf of the great spirit."

Cardinal emphasized the need for people of all races to work side-by-side in order to prosper.

"I thank the Creator. . . for the togetherness we hope to achieve. Together that we will do things. Together that we will understand we are humans as well as everything else," said Cardinal.

The respected Elder told the crowd that his great-great grandfather was the chief of the area in the late 1800s. He said two generations before that, his great-great grandfather's own father and grandfather were on the shores of Lac La Biche to welcome David Thompson when he arrived.

"Not many of us that are here today will see the next 200 years," he joked, bringing a burst of laughter from the quiet crowd "but, there again my friends, hope and prayers will bring us along to bring our kids and their kids to be able to celebrate this day in 200 years from now. Hopefully, some of my people will be there to participate in the next 200 years."