Plenty of events happening on National Aboriginal Day

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Among the scheduled activities June 21, the Athabasca Native Friendship Centre will be holding its annual general meeting and a barbecue at the Friendship Centre, starting at 6 p.m.

In Edmonton, the National Aboriginal Day Government of Canada Partnership Committee is organizing National Aboriginal Day events at Canada Place in the main atrium. From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., arts and crafts will be on display, and a trade show will be held. Children's activities and a tea and bannock give-away will go from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Events on the main stage will begin at 11 a.m. with an Aboriginal veteran's color guard, followed by an honor song, and a grand entry of dignitaries and entertainers. Elder Joe Potts Sr. will offer a prayer, and Elder Agnes Littlechild will perform a sweetgrass ceremony.

A special presentation is also scheduled to be announced, with the late Joey Gladue to receive an Aboriginal Achiever award.

Entertainment on the main stage will feature Haida drummers and dancers, Metis dancer Raymond Gladue, fiddler Homer Poitras, and Inuit throat singers. The winners of the 2000 National Aboriginal Day poster contest will also be announced during the main stage activities.

Also in Edmonton, Native Counselling Services of Alberta is hosting a showcase of Aboriginal designers and entertainers June 22 at the Delta Centre Suite Hotel in the Eaton's Centre in Edmonton. The event will feature a fashion show of unique Aboriginal designs, entertainment by Metis singer Shannon Dawn and the Aboriginal women's hand-drum group Spirit Women Singers, as well a silent auction. Tickets for the event will be $20 in advance or $25 at the door. For more information or to purchase tickets, call Anne or Patti at 423-2141.

In Calgary, an Aboriginal youth career and employment fair is being held, co-ordinated by the Calgary Youth Employment Centre, Helping Circle Employment Services, Aboriginal Futures Corporation and the city of Calgary Aboriginal Services. The employment fair will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Youth Employment Centre, located on the second floor, 315 - 10 Ave. SE.

For more information, call the Youth Employment Centre at 403-268-2490, or you can check out the Youth Employment Centre's website at www.nextsteps.org.

Also in Calgary, the CANE committee at Revenue Canada will be hosting National Aboriginal Day events on June 21. From 10 a.m. to 10:30, booths will be set up by various Aboriginal organizations. From 12 p.m. to 1 p.m., entertainment will be provided. For more information, call Danial Curotte at 403-231-3071.

The Hinton Friendship Centre is celebrating National Aboriginal Day on June 24 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Valley Shopping Centre parking lot. Native dancers will perform and a volunteer appreciation event is planned. The grand opening of the new location for the friendship centre will also be held. Other activities planned include karaoke, an astro jump, and displays of Native art. For more information, call the Hinton Friendship Centre at 780-865-5189.

In Pincher Creek, the Napi Friendship Centre is working with other partners to organize events for National Aboriginal Day. This year's event, the Buffalo Runner Half-Relay and Marathon, will be held the weekend prior to National Aboriginal Day, with ceremonies Friday, June 16, and the run itself Sunday, June 18. The run will begin in Pincher Creek and end in Brocket. For more information, contact Ken Williams at 403-627-2636.

In Lloydminster, the Lloydminster Native Friendship Centre will be hosting an entire day of events, beginning at around 9 a.m. and going until about 7 p.m. A portion of 46 Street between 49 Ave. and 50 Ave. will be blocked off for the celebrations, The event will be opened with students from Father Gorman school performing a greeting song in Cree.

Craft tables will be set up and traditional foods will be for sale. Two tipis will be set up at the site, providing the venue for storytelling by First Nations and Metis lders. First Nations and Metis dancers will be taking part, demonstrating traditional dances.

Entertainment during the celebrations will also include fiddling and a talent show. Hand games are also planned, and a Cree curriculum display will be set up. Face painting and games will be offered for the children in attendance, and final judging will be held for a poster contest for youth on the subject "What Aboriginal Day means to me."

For more information about National Aboriginal Day celebrations in Lloydminster, call the friendship centre at 306-825-6558.

Rather than celebrating just one day, a whole week of events is planned in Slave Lake, starting Monday, June 19 with a walk beginning at 10 a.m. from the Slave Lake Native Friendship Centre, up the main street, and back down to the friendship centre. Also on June 19, the Metis Nation Zone 5 Local are having an open house from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

On Tuesday, June 20, the friendship centre is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for tours, and on Wednesday, June 21, an open house will be held from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. The friendship centre will be open for tours again on Thursday, June 22 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

On Friday, June 23, Native Counselling Services of Alberta will be hosting an open house at its office from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Also on Friday, a community picnic will be held from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Schurter Park.

A big celebration is planned for Saturday, June 24, organized by Native Counselling Services, the friendship centre, Lesser Slave Lake Indian Regional Council, Zone 5 Metis Nation Local. The event will take place at the Sawridge Mall from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., starting with a smudge and opening prayer with dignitaries and Elders. Drummers, dancers, and a mini round dance will be featured.

On Sunday, June 25, the Zone 5 Metis Nation Local will be meeting at the Sawridge truck stop at 10 a.m., to kick off Voyage back to Batoche, a trip from Slave Lake to Batoche using traditional means of transportation, including wgons, carts and canoes.

For more information about what's planned for National Aboriginal Day celebrations in Slave Lake, call Lynda Schill with Native Counselling Services at 780-849-4914.

Fort Whoop-Up will also be the site of National Aboriginal Day celebrations, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Events planned for the day include tipi-raising contests, tobacco races and hand games, as well as performances by Metis and First Nations dancers. An authentic Blackfoot tipi display will be set up, along with craft and display tables. For more information or to register for the tipi competitions, call Fort Whoop-Up at 403-329-0444.

For more information and updates on what's going on across the province for National Aboriginal Day, visit the NAD website at http://www.inac.gc.ca/june21/