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Karla Buffalo, CEO of Athabasca Tribal Council, said this week’s cultural festival in Fort McMurray, which ends tomorrow, has been a real community undertaking.
It started with a pipe ceremony, and included a headdress transfer, a cultural village and workshops, a tea dance and a hand games tournament.
“It was tonnes of fun.”
And Buffalo said the Elders gathered were so happy to have an opportunity to celebrate and showcase Cree, Dene and Metis culture.
“They said this was a long time coming.”
The festival is taking place at Snye Point Park, an historical gathering place for generations. Fort McMurray provides a central location to bring people—Indigenous and multi-cultural non-Indigenous—together to learn the customs, traditions and language of the First Peoples of the territory.
“They are able to come out and ask lots of questions, and join in with us in celebrating who we are.”
Buffalo and the tribal council hopes to grow the festival and with it the people. She said there is a strong, vibrant Cree and Dene culture in the area with community members that are passionate about practising their culture and sharing it with others.
She encourages people to check the festival out. See the program here: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5d4da7aa02c9a3000161b78d/t/5d81b8f6f584ad362884a3f6/1568782611808/ATC-CF-Program-web.pdf