The Yellowknives Dene First Nation hosted the citySA国际影视传媒檚 only National Indigenous Peoples Day festivities this year under a warm, sunny sky at the Wiilideh traditional site on the Yellowknife River.
Chief Ed Sangris (Dettah) offered welcoming words that led into a prayer drumming and a sacred fire feeding ceremony to open the daySA国际影视传媒檚 celebrations.
Sangris touched on the importance of the day to renew oneself spiritually and to one another much like the the day marks the annual renewal of all life under the Creator.
SA国际影视传媒漌e have to renew ourselves,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淭his is the time of renewal for everything else on Earth. The Creator put everything on this earth and he renews it once a year. We Dene people renew our spirituality.SA国际影视传媒�
Chief Ernest Betsina welcomed the crowd following the fire-feeding ceremony and thanked all those that participated in the sacred event.
SA国际影视传媒淲herever youSA国际影视传媒檙e from and whatever community youSA国际影视传媒檙e from or nationality, I want to welcome you, Betsina said. SA国际影视传媒淭his is our day - Aboriginal Day.
SA国际影视传媒淲hatever reason you put your tobacco in, ISA国际影视传媒檓 sure the Creator, is listening right now.SA国际影视传媒�
Greetings were also offered by William Greenland and Bobby Drygeese. who both touched on the importance of the day for area Indigenous people.
Throughout the grounds the Indigenous peoples of Chief Drygeese Territory hosted sites, smells, sounds and tastes of all sorts rooted in traditional culture.
Activities were scheduled to stretch well into Monday evening.
A full report will be provided in WednesdaySA国际影视传媒檚 Yellowknifer.
