The traditional garb of the Native dancers was vibrant and colourful; it was accompanied by soulful cries of the Indian flag song that echoed through the Bear Claw banquet room on Friday, June 21.
It was national Aboriginal day and the Bear Claw Casino celebrated the occasion with a fish fry but the food was just a side note to the entire festivities as many people from surrounding communities got to experience a piece of Aboriginal culture. "Moving doesn't describe the experience," one woman in attendance describing her time at the event. Marketing manager of the casino, Vanessa Big Eagle explained the meaning of Aboriginal Day and said the event served a great purpose.
"It's a chance to for us to celebrate our culture and our history and share some of that with the surrounding community here sometimes First Nations people are reflected negatively and we just want to show them who we are and our culture," she said.
National Aboriginal Day was first celebrated in 1996 and came after a long series of requests and deliberation for a day to be designated for the celebration of Aboriginal culture. The MC for the day, Winston Bear educated the crowd in Native songs and dance explaining their meaning. He also delved into some of the history as to the struggles and triumphs of Aboriginal people in Canada. Though the weather wasn't the best day for what is usually an outdoor event, the Bear Claw Casino held their celebrations indoors. This however did not subtract from the day's meaning any less as those in attendance could be seen, rocking to each percussive blow of the drum. Patrons were treated to dances that stemmed deep in Aboriginal culture, while the drumming and singing that echoed on the grounds surged incandescent feelings through all who were present.
The traditional dances were done by children with an adult leading the group but the stomps and gyrating shoulders of the performers was hypnotizing. One individual described it as almost transporting them to another time. Music and dancing wasn't the only available activity as there was a horse and buggy ride for children. As well as bouncers but the spectacle of the day was still the music and dancing as the audience was regularly invited on stage to participate, and so they did, doing their best powwow impression.
In addition the Asham Stompers were on hand, a group of dancers whose routine is a blend European and Native cultures. Arnold Asham lead dancer and founder of the group expressed his feelings on the importance of National Aboriginal Day."We feel so blessed to be here our purpose is to help bring hope to the Aboriginal community," he said. Asham explained that Aboriginal people are sometimes disregarded and some of the issues within their communities are not addressed, such as self-esteem. Dancing, he said is one tool he uses help the community with certain issues and that the youth can benefit from, as esteem is a problem for many young people.
The day did not end there, as the audience was entertained by hoop dancer Terrence Littletent, who twirled and interlocked traditional hoops that captivated the crowd. From the eagle, to horses and the spherical earth, he danced and symbolically used the hoops to incorporate all aspects of Aboriginal culture.
