National Aboriginal Day in Williams Lake promises to be a lot of fun.
“It’s a day where we invite everyone to come and learn more about First Nations culture and celebrate First Nations in the community,” said Marg Casey, community service co-ordinator with the North Shuswap Tribal Council.
The celebration will begin Saturday, June 21, with a parade departing from the Elks Hall on First Avenue South at 10 a.m., heading up Oliver Street and arriving at Boitanio Park, where events are scheduled from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m.
“We have the All Nations Fiddlers performing, the First Nations role models will be there, and we’re having not one, but two bouncy castles,” Casey said.
The creation of a community mosaic mural is new this year.
Members of the Williams Lake Community Arts Council and the Northern Shuswap Tribal Council have teamed up to co-ordinate the project, said Liliana Dragowska of the arts council.
Local artists Cat Prevette and Joan Gentles have designed and applied a stencil on the asphalt featuring four hands and a heart that the public will be encouraged to help paint.
“It’s not meant to be permanent and there’s no maintenance required,” Dragowska said.
Although they will be a few hours west of Williams Lake, participants in the sixth annual Xeni Gwet’in Youth and Elders Ride will already be en route on Aboriginal Day for their journey by horseback, wagon and iron horse from Nemiah Valley to the Williams Lake Stampede.