The National Aboriginal Day celebrations in Williams Lake this Sunday will include a parade that winds up in Boitanio Park followed by all kinds of activities in the park for all ages.
The Northern Shuswap Tribal Council is planning for a “loud and lively” parade featuring dancers, bands, sports teams, horses, floats and more.
In the park there will be bouncy castles, face painting, and a show by storyteller, Kenthen Thomas, from noon to 12:45 p.m.
Rick Gilbert is bringing his fiddle and Bruce Baptiste is setting up a Lahal tournament.
There will also be lots of vendors selling food, bannock and crafts.
The master of ceremonies Mike Retasket will have a special (surprise) “helper’ with him.
The parade starts at 10 a.m. on First Avenue. Among the entrants will be the SD 27 First Nations Role Models who will also be reading poetry from the school district’s poetry contest
Activities in the park run from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
People who would like to set up a booth or have an activity they would like to do should contact Marg Casey at NSTC for more information and registration forms at 250-392-7361 or email to m.casey@nstq.org
Leading up to Aboriginal Day the Cariboo Art Society and the Williams Lake Community Arts Council are welcoming people of all races to help paint a new mandala in Boitanio Park today and tomorrow.
The mandala is being painted on the floor of the Gwen Pharis Ringwood stage starting at 1 p.m. this afternoon, June 19, and on Saturday between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.
That way the painting, being done in acrylic paints, will be dry in time for the Aboriginal Day celebrations in the park on Sunday.
Artist Cat Prevette says the mandala will have four hands at its centre, one black, one white, one red, and one yellow to represent the four world races.
Around the outside there will be 16 segments which will be painted by representatives from as many of the community’s multicultural sectors as possible. People who would like to participate in the painting can call Prevette at 250-296-3670.