BONNYVILLE – The beating drum and melodic cadence of singers filled the Bonnyville and District Centennial Centre (C2) on June 21. Clad in resplendent regalia, the dancers moved to the music.
The day marked National Indigenous Peoples Day, and members of the Bonnyville community gathered and celebrated together.
During a program in the afternoon, Town of Bonnyville Mayor Elisa Brosseau spoke to attendees. “This is an important day to showcase traditional practices and stories... passed down from one generation to the next,” she began.
With music, dancing, and food, “We honour the culture and contributions of First Nation, Inuit, and Métis people,” said Brosseau. She also thanked the Bonnyville Friendship Centre for hosting the event.
Janet Gobert, director of operations at the Friendship Centre, recognized the volunteers for their work, helping make the event possible.
Gobert also gave recognition to the Friendship Centre’s team. She noted that to deliver health and social programming, as well as provide a food bank and homeless shelter, it requires a team of skilled professionals, knowledge keepers, and more.
As the Friendship Centre’s team stood up, it was followed by a round of applause from the crowd.
“Not only does it take a team, it [also] takes funding,” said Gobert, explaining that as a non-profit, the Friendship Centre heavily relies on funding opportunities at the community, provincial, and federal levels, in addition to corporate and individual donations.
She recognized Alberta Health Service’s Honouring Life Program for providing $545,210 to the Friendship Centre.
Marjorie Luzentales-Simpson, AHS project manager, explained the program aims to build resiliency in Indigenous youth.
In 2018, Alberta Health committed grant funding to AHS for the program, as part of Alberta Health’s Provincial Action Plan for Youth Prevention, according to an AHS document outlining the program.
The Friendship Centre was among the beneficiaries of the program’s first round of funding, allowing the Friendship Centre to carry out initiatives for First Nation youth in the community, as well as offering programs around cultural awareness and resiliency training.
“In 2022, we are proud to be able to offer continued funding, multiple years of funding,” for communities to build and implement their own programs for their youth, said Luzentales-Simpson.
Following the remarks, the celebrations continued, with performers such as the Edmonton Traditional Métis Dancers, as well as Patrick Mitsuing, who performed at the 2023 NFL Superbowl.
