The ML Stompers performing for Indigenous Peoples' Day in Melfort. (Cam Lee/northeastNOW)

By Cam Lee

Indigenous Peoples' Day

Marguerite Riel Centre hosts Indigenous Peoples’ Day celebration

Jun 19, 2025 | 2:16 PM

An Indigenous Peoples’ Day celebration in Melfort brought people from all ages to enjoy dancing, food, and fellowship.

The Marguerite Riel Centre hosted the celebration at their Wellness Centre on Burrows Ave. W. on Thursday.

Resolution Health Support Worker (RHSW) team leader Perry Opoonechaw told northeastNOW they brought people together to showcase some of the Indigenous, Metis, and Inuit heritage.

“We brought in a couple of different dance groups – we got three from Montreal Lake, showcasing hoop dancing, there’s a creative dance, there’s also…square dancing,” Opoonechaw said.

One of the dance groups, the ML Stompers from Montreal Lake, performed several dances.

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The ML Stompers features dancers from between the ages of 13 and 16, and they also summoned participants from the audience for a heel and toe polka performance.

Tre Twist, a Chicken Dancer from James Smith Cree Nation, was also on hand to perform.

He told the crowd that his favourite part of dancing was performing for an audience and seeing their reaction.

(Cam Lee/northeastNOW)

The event was held in the MRC’s new Wellness Centre across from their office, and Arcand said they set up displays highlighting Indigenous culture.

(Cam Lee/northeastNOW)

“We have a fantastic team, all of us at the Marguerite Riel Centre, when we do events like this so it’s really nice how everything turns out.”

Opoonechaw said much of their summer will be focused on youth programming geared toward at-risk youth under 18. Perry and Kevin Arcand with the RHSW will also be taking out a youth group for land-based learning once a week. Both will also continue their MENtality program once a week, which is a men’s group that does projects including woodworking and games.

“Just a bunch of guys being in a good space,” Arcand explained.

The MRC will also hold a 30th anniversary celebration sometime in the near future.

National Indigenous Peoples’ Day is Saturday, June 21, the start of the summer solstice.

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cam.lee@pattisonmedia.com