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Saskatoon marked National Aboriginal Day in the city Tuesday.
A large crowd gathered at Victoria Park for a celebration hosted by the Saskatoon Indian and Métis Friendship Centre.
The all-day event featured a Grand Entry, speeches by dignitaries, a soup and bannock lunch followed by music and dance.
This year’s theme focused on Residential School survivors, with reconciliation among the topics.
Those who spoke to CKOM News said reconciliation is a chance to heal.
“We need to bring the community together as one,” one woman said.
The Saskatoon Indian and Métis Friendship Centre said through the annual event, they hope to provide cultural education and awareness about the diversity and uniqueness of the Aboriginal people in the city.
The federal government began observing National Aboriginal Day on June 21 two decades ago.
There’s a push now to make it a national holiday; however, not everyone is optimistic it will happen.
“Honestly, the way our government is, I don’t think it will ever happen, which is disappointing,” said Pamela Walker, who was there celebrating.
“We should be just as important as Columbus Day and Veterans Day.”
The day also serves as a chance for indigenous people to collect $5 a person as agreed in the treaties.
Events were held across the country; Prime Minister Justin Trudeau attended a sunrise ritual on the shore of the Ottawa River wearing moccasins and a buckskin jacket that his office said was owned by his father, the late Pierre Elliott Trudeau.
As the sun rose beyond a bridge linking Quebec and Ontario, Justin Trudeau was bathed with a ceremonial smoke as part of a smudging ceremony before paddling beneath the Parliament buildings in a 10-metre cargo canoe.
National Aboriginal Day celebrations at #victoriapark dignitary speeches happening right now #Saskatoon @CKOMNews pic.twitter.com/G9nJ0ytlHZ
— JT Marshall (@jtmarshallCKOM) June 21, 2016
Our students and staff are taking part in #NationalAboriginalDay celebration in #yxe #spslearn pic.twitter.com/J1m5SHIY0e
— Saskatoon Public (@StoonPubSchools) June 21, 2016
#saskatoon tribal council mascot giving the kids a hug at National Aborginal Day celebrations pic.twitter.com/2lUTpfhnEQ
— JT Marshall (@jtmarshallCKOM) June 21, 2016
– With files from the Canadian Press