Building bridges between all communities
Issue link: http://publications.winnipegfreepress.com/i/519783
JUNE 2015 • PAGE 3 It occurred to me as I was putting together this issue that there are plenty of reasons to celebrate Aboriginal Day. By now I hope many people realize that use of the word Aboriginal is an inclusive term referring to First Nation, Inuit and Metis peoples. Sure there's some darkness out there but here in Winnipeg there's a change happening within the Aboriginal community and my purpose here right now is shine a light on that. Let's talk Idle No More because it's still around. The movement became less about specific goals and more about First Nation peoples just standing up and letting the rest of Canada know that it had not gone quietly into that good night. It was not about causing violent revolutionary change because a Round Dance temporarily halting traffic on a busy street just isn't about that. Quietly and behind the scenes there are Aboriginal people transforming their lives one education or training program at a time. I talked to quite a few people at the Neeginan Institute who were taking apprenticeship programs and looking forward to working in their chosen field. Or the number of Aboriginal graduates at the University of Manitoba Graduation Pow Wow earlier this month. Change is happening but it's a slow change. Just take a look at the stories in this month's issue. There's the story about women coming together to find their voice through the establishment of Manitoba Moon Voices Inc. and their first annual general meeting at the Thunderbird House. My trip out to Norway House for the opening of a Salisbury House wasn't about the opening of a food chain store in a northern Manitoba First Nation community but an example of a dynamic communities growth and enterprise. Kani Kanichihk hosts the fourteenth annual Keep the Fires Burning honouring female elders from Winnipeg's dynamic Aboriginal community. Or the small story about a very big boy, excuse me, young man named Jesse Parisian finding himself through excelling at football and taking it just one game at a time. Street survivor and former drug deal Lenard Monkman trying to give back to his community by fundraising for basketballs in the North End and a basketball game with the Winnipeg police. The Aboriginal Peoples Television Network once again will be hosting Aboriginal Day at The Forks with a host of activities during the day to be capped off with a concert at the end of the evening culminating in a fireworks display By Trevor Greyeyes. Plenty oF reasons to celebrate aboriginal day Square dance backup band 2014 aboriginal Day David Blacksmith and minister eric robinson MC pow wow