Traditional dancers, students and the public celebrate

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Hundreds of students and guests enjoyed the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology's Aboriginal Cultural Day on Feb. 7. Spectators surrounded the South Lobby as traditional dancers, hoop dancers, Metis dancers, and fancy dancers performed.

A presentation of the Senator Chalifoux award, and a feast of moose stew, salads and other refreshments were part of the event. Eva Stang, the Aboriginal liaison co-ordinator was excited with the outcome of the day's events and attendance at the gathering. She believes that each year it gets better than the year before.

"It used to be called Aboriginal awareness day, but this year we've called it Aboriginal Cultural Day because we've been doing this for four years and most people are aware of what we do each year, so it is not an awareness anymore. It has turned into a cultural day. It was really busy for the people who organized it, but people had a good time," she said.

Each year, the first week in February is designated as a cultural week at the technical school, less formally known as NAIT. Stang said this gives students of other cultures a chance to share their various traditions with the rest of the school.

"The whole purpose of that is that every culture has a chance to share their various traditions. At the end of that week we end it by having a full day of our Aboriginal cultural day. Cultural week gives all nationalities a chance to celebrate their cultures," she said.

"It is important for me to share our culture. For us as First Nation, Metis, and Inuit, that in our cultures there are positive things happening," she said.

According to Stang more than 300 Aboriginal students are enrolled in a variety of courses at NAIT.