|
Pride and fun at Driftpile takeover celebration
|
A grand entry was held as part of the celebration. From left are Cpl. Barry Ledoux of the Lakeshore Regional Police Service, Jim Badger, Jimmy Giroux, police chief Dale Cox and emcee Stan Isadore.
|
|
These drummers, from the Driftpile and Swan River First Nations, performed a song for the opening of the celebration. Clockwise, from lower left, are Gabe Isadore, James Isadore, Richard Woodman, Dustin Twin, Devin Bellerose, George Isadore, Tommy Giroux, Stan Sasakamoose and Vital Isadore.
|
Mac Olsen
for South Peace News
The date Aug. 13, 1979 is significant for Driftpile First Nation and many other Aboriginal groups in the area.
It was the day they signed a master agreement with the federal government allowing them to take over many administrative functions on their own.
Driftpile First Nation marked the 30th anniversary of the agreement Aug. 20 with a celebration. A drum group consisting of members of the Driftpile and Swan River First Nations performed the opening song and a grand entry followed. Elder James Isadore offered the invocation, saying a prayer in Cree.
Then Grand Chief Rose Laboucan, representing the Lesser Slave Lake Indian Regional Council, spoke about the significance of the event.
“It was excellent at that time that the chiefs had a vision,” says Laboucan, referring to the takeover of INAC programming at the office in High Prairie, which was the first of its kind in Canada.
“Thank you to the visionaries of 1979, including Chief Frank Halcrow, Jim Badger, Jim Giroux and Charlie Chalifoux. Overall, it’s the beginning of the end of the colonization process.”
The politics and administration of the LSLIRC are separate and its members are highly successful, she adds.
Lesser Slave Lake MLA Pearl Calahasen was invited to speak and she congratulated the LSLIRC.
“I congratulate the leaders, elders and the people who worked so hard to see this day and achieve this milestone,” says Calahasen.
“I think they’ve made major steps and did that by taking baby steps, to make sure all the issues were dealt with in a caring fashion.”
They have succeeded, despite predictions of failure and the people’s support for their leaders has been an important factor, she adds.
Jim Badger, the LSLIRC health director, also attended the celebration and says things have greatly improved, especially the governance system.
“We are still slaves to the Indian Act, so we still have to follow federal policy,” says Badger. “But we will get our full governance as we’re supposed to.”
Later, emcee Stan Isadore announced the names of the dignitaries who received gifts from the LSLIRC. He also announced the names of those receiving long-term service awards.
Other activities were held in the afternoon, including a jigging contest, a moose calling contest, an elders bingo, hand games, a baseball tournament, an adult relay race, pin the head dress on the chief, red neck horse shoes and golf closest to the pin.
The band Midnight Thunder performed and a feast was held in the evening.
< Previous
Home
Next >
|
