First Nations Voice

AUGUST 2014 • PAGE 3 ExperienceManitoba'sstoriedandvibrant indigenous culture at attractions throughout the province. The original people of the prairies proudly share their history and traditions with travellers keen for a taste of aboriginal life. The history of European settlement in Manitoba stretches back centuries. Aboriginal life in the province stretches backs a millennia. Indeed,theprovincewasnamed inhonour ofthelegendofManitou,theGreatSpiritwho blew a strong wind and sent waves crashing at the Lake Manitoba Narrows. The word for Great Spirit in Ojibway is 'Manitobau,' thereby cementing the province's name and ties to its aboriginal roots. Today, Manitoba's indigenous culture, history, spiritual life and traditions are kept alive and cherished in all corners of the province. Travellers itching for a taste of aboriginal life, either past and present, can walk it, talk it, and if you're hungry, even eat it. On day trips to sacred sites, buffalo jumps, pictographs, petroforms and modern-day pow wows, Manitoba's aboriginal way of life, now and then, springs to life. Keep your ears tuned too. When you hear a local Aboriginal bid you "Meegwetch," know that with a single word, you are welcomed, thanked for your presence and urged to come back again soon. Learn about and live aboriginal life at some of Manitoba's best attractions and events. Here are a few highlights for August: Long Plain First Nation Annual Pow Wow Date: From Friday, August 2, 2013 to Sunday, August 4, 2013 Fisher River Cree Nation Pow Wow Date: August 5-7, 2014 Registration opens Tuesday @4pm Description: Grand Entry Tuesday: 7pm Wednesday: 1 & 7pm Thursday: 1pm Fisher River Cree Nation is located 240Km north of Winnipeg, Manitoba Brokenhead Ojibway Nation Date: August 8 -10 Description: Grand Entry Friday: 7pm Saturday: 1 & 7pm Sunday: 1pm Sandy Bay First Nation Dates: August 29, 2014 - August 31, 2014 (Recurring daily) Location: Sandy Bay First Nation Pow Wow Grounds Downtown Winnipeg places: TheAboriginalCentreofWinnipeg:Once the home of the Canadian Pacific Railway Station, this grand building on Higgins Street in Winnipeg's North Main neighbourhood, has been transformed into into a gathering place and resource centre for the local Aboriginal community. It is also open to the general public and events are held year round at the centre. The rotunda has been restored to its former glory and is also home to the Aboriginal Centre Restaurant, which serves traditional cuisine. For more information go to abcentre.org or call 204-989-6605. Circle of Life Thunderbird House: Delve into aboriginal values, culture and spirituality inside this stylized bricks and mortar tipi on Winnipeg's Main Street. This imposing and dramatic building is a meeting place for spiritual fulfillment and socializing. Traditional sweats can be arranged for groups. Solo travelers may also join a community sweat. For more information visit thunderbirdhouse. com or call 204-940-4240. For history buffs, check out these storied and sacred aboriginal sites dating back thousands of years: Christ Church: Founded in 1840 in The Pas, this Anglican church was headed by Henry Budd, the first ordained Aboriginal minister in the Anglican church. The Ten Commandments are written on a wall in Cree in the church. Meanwhile, some of the furnishings were made by ships' carpenters from the 1847 expedition in search of Sir John Franklin. Molson Lake Rock Paintings: Located north of Norway House in northern Manitoba, mysterious pictographs were discovered painted on rock faces along Paimusk Creek. The Stott Site: In the Assiniboine Valley near Brandon, archeologists unearthed bison bones, kill and process tools and artifacts dating back to 1,000 A.D. The area was home to Assiniboine villagers who also used the steep valley walls as buffalo jumps. The site is located outside Brandon at the Grand Valley Provincial Park. Bannock Point Petroforms: Inside Whiteshell Provincial Park, ancient petroforms-boulder mosaics of turtles, snakes, birds and humans-tell the story of Aboriginal life through the ages. These ground-levelartworkswerelaidoutcenturies ago by the first peoples and represented their spiritual connection to the land, the earth and the animals. Thunderbird Nest: This ancient sight near The Narrows of Lake Manitoba was constructed by the Anishinabe to attract this guardian spirit. Five hand-painted signs at the site describe the legend. The site is still used today by the Ojibway to perform spiritual ceremonies. Kenosewun Centre: Located in Lockport's Heritage Park, the centre houses tourist information and archaeological exhibits of Aboriginal horticultural practices. The area, just north of Winnipeg, was home to Manitoba's first farmers, who cultivated the land and fished in the nearby St. Andrews rapids. Travel Manitoba Share the past and celebrate the present with Manitoba's First Nations people -TravelManitoba PAYMENTS PAYMENTS STARTING AT STARTING AT STARTING AT $ 99 99/BW BW BW UP TO UP TO UP TO $ 10 10,000 000 CASH BACK CASH BACKOAC OAC OAC 0% 0% INTEREST INTEREST 0.A.C. 0.A.C. USED USED CARS CARS STARTING AT STARTING AT $ 6,000 000 NO NO MONEY MONEY DOWN DOWN O.A.C. O.A.C. EASY EASY 5 MINUTE 5 MINUTE APPROVAL PROCESS APPROVAL PROCESS ALL LEVELS ALL LEVELS OF CREDIT! OF CREDIT! 1717 Waverley | sam.melquist@midtown-ford.com 1717 Waverley | sam.melquist@midtown-ford.com midtown- midtown-ford.dealerconnection.com ford.dealerconnection.com INSTANTCREDITAPPROVAL INSTANTCREDITAPPROVAL SAM IS GOING TO PROVIDE YOU WHAT YOU ALREADY KNOW YOU DESERVE SAM IS GOING TO PROVIDE YOU WHAT YOU ALREADY KNOW YOU DESERVE Sam Melquist 204-296-0079 Sam Melquist 204-296-0079

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