As the wind blew and the drums played, flags for the First Nations of Day Star, Fishing Lake, George Gordon, and Muskowekwan started to rise above the Horizon School Division courtyard on June 21. (Submitted photo/Becky Zimmer)

By Becky Zimmer

June 21 in Humboldt

Ceremony at Horizon’s Humboldt office celebrates Indigenous Peoples

Jun 21, 2023 | 5:06 PM

Horizon School Division celebrated National Indigenous People’s Day on Wednesday with a morning ceremony at its head office in Humboldt.

Around 150 people witnessed the flags of local First Nation groups, including Day Star, Fishing Lake, George Gordon, and Muskowekwan being raised alongside the federal, provincial, division, reconciliation, the Métis and Treaty 4 and 6 flags within the division courtyard following a traditional pipe ceremony.

Partnerships and celebrating diversity within the division was the message for the event, said Bryan McNabb, Superintendent of Indigenous Education.

“When we bring together all our different communities and our different partners and our different organizations to come and just celebrate and to take part in a day where we can not only just celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day, but celebrate other cultures and other Heritage’s as well,” he said.

Students from George Gordon Education Center, Muenster, and Humboldt Public School were also in attendance with the George Gordon students singing O’Canada in Cree.

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All the decisions the school division makes are centred around their students so to have students present was also an important element, not just of the June 21 event but everyday treaty education, said McNabb.

“It’s about every day and ensuring that we embed treaty education, treaty reconciliation and the history of our Indigenous peoples so that they learn about the truth that has happened in the past.”

Bringing greetings from the City of Humboldt, Mayor Michael Behiel spoke of his gratitude for being invited to the event. The education and knowledge he has gained have inspired him to seek out other partnerships that will unify Indigenous and non-Indigenous groups in Humboldt and area, he told the gathered crowd. Speaking of the work of the city’s Cultural Services and Heritage Saskatchewan in their “Relationship Building and Reconciliation through Living Heritage” project, Behiel encouraged all citizens to continue their own learning to “gain an understanding of what Reconciliation truly means.”

Music was also a big part of the event. The Dancing Horse Singers group performed the honour and flag songs on drums with their dancers also getting a chance to show off their talents and traditions. Everyone was also invited to participate in a round dance accompanied by the singers and drums.

This was followed by Max Laplante, member of the George Gordon First Nation and the Saskatoon Police Pipes and Drums, who played songs on his bagpipes. Led by Country Dawn Anaquod, the Qu’Appelle Valley Dancers finished off the event with a few jigs and polkas, including one where a few members of the audience got to dance with them.

The event wouldn’t have taken place without the hard work of the organizing committee, said McNabb, including Amanda Moosemay, Melanie Gray, Brent Fitzpatrick, Jennifer Fitzpatrick, and all those who planned and collaborated to make the day a success.

The 30,970-square-kilometre division in east central Saskatchewan spans across Treaty 4 and Treaty 6 territories, the homeland of the Cree, Dene, Saulteaux, and Métis peoples and the First Nations of Day Star, Fishing Lake, George Gordon, Kawacatoose, Muskowekwan, One Arrow, Beardy’s & Okemasis, and Yellow Quill.

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becky.zimmer@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @bex_zim