When I was in high school, I was a member of MB4Youth, an advisory committee providing feedback on services to the Minister of Education, Citizenship and Youth (Peter Bjornson, at the time). It was a great experience and I got to do some really fun things. One of the projects I worked on suicide prevention for Aboriginal youth. With that, I had a lot of training on Aboriginal issues and history. We went to sweat lodges, Aboriginal Acheivement Awards, pow wows and talked to lots of elders. I learnt a lot about the past and about current issues facing Aboriginal peoples. It was a very valuable experience.
Since then, I have been very intrigued by Aboriginal culture. My mom used to work at APTN and it was really interesting to see all the stuff she was involved in. When she worked there, we went to Manito Ahbee and it was absolutely amazing, especially the chicken dancing - it gave me tingles up and down my spine. The costumes are all made by hand with great colourful beading. No two are the same.
Aboriginal culture is one that encourage kindness, selflessness, brotherhood, peace and a sense of purpose and meaning in this world. It also means a sense of pride, but also a broken past.
I was talking to a friend of mine, Thomas Edwards, about Aboriginal issues. Thomas is an awesome Aboriginal Role Model and has done great things in his community. We were talking about residential schools and the inequalities Aboriginal people have faced in the past, and he said something that really struck a chord with me. He said "It takes seven generations to heal, i'm only the second". A lot of people think that people really dwell on the past. But it's not really that far in the past. Aboriginal peoples only were granted voting priviledges in the 1960s, so a lot of people that are alive today still remember a time when they weren't allowed to cast a ballot. The last residential school to close was in 1996. These things aren't the past because it happened in our lifetime. So it can't just be forgotten that easily.
This weekend is the Manito Ahbee Festival for All Nations in Winnipeg. It is a GREAT weekend with SO many fun events! Last night I went to the First Night Awards at the McPhillips Street Station Casino and dipped my feet in to Media Relations working with RoseAnna Schick. It was absolutely amazing. Tonight is the Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards at the MTS Centre with people like George Canyon, Charlie Major, Sierra Noble, Crystal Shawanda and is hosted by Lorne Cardinal (From Corner Gas). Saturday and Sunday is the International Competition Pow Wow with lots of crafts and art for sale on the main concourse.
I strongly urge everyone to go to a Manito Ahbee event this weekend. It's a great time!
Since then, I have been very intrigued by Aboriginal culture. My mom used to work at APTN and it was really interesting to see all the stuff she was involved in. When she worked there, we went to Manito Ahbee and it was absolutely amazing, especially the chicken dancing - it gave me tingles up and down my spine. The costumes are all made by hand with great colourful beading. No two are the same.
Aboriginal culture is one that encourage kindness, selflessness, brotherhood, peace and a sense of purpose and meaning in this world. It also means a sense of pride, but also a broken past.
I was talking to a friend of mine, Thomas Edwards, about Aboriginal issues. Thomas is an awesome Aboriginal Role Model and has done great things in his community. We were talking about residential schools and the inequalities Aboriginal people have faced in the past, and he said something that really struck a chord with me. He said "It takes seven generations to heal, i'm only the second". A lot of people think that people really dwell on the past. But it's not really that far in the past. Aboriginal peoples only were granted voting priviledges in the 1960s, so a lot of people that are alive today still remember a time when they weren't allowed to cast a ballot. The last residential school to close was in 1996. These things aren't the past because it happened in our lifetime. So it can't just be forgotten that easily.
This weekend is the Manito Ahbee Festival for All Nations in Winnipeg. It is a GREAT weekend with SO many fun events! Last night I went to the First Night Awards at the McPhillips Street Station Casino and dipped my feet in to Media Relations working with RoseAnna Schick. It was absolutely amazing. Tonight is the Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards at the MTS Centre with people like George Canyon, Charlie Major, Sierra Noble, Crystal Shawanda and is hosted by Lorne Cardinal (From Corner Gas). Saturday and Sunday is the International Competition Pow Wow with lots of crafts and art for sale on the main concourse.
I strongly urge everyone to go to a Manito Ahbee event this weekend. It's a great time!
3 comments:
Cool post!
I'm working with CBC tomorrow night at the MTS Centre.
Should be fun!
GREAT post Angele - especially love; 'Aboriginal culture is one that encourage kindness, selflessness, brotherhood, peace and a sense of purpose and meaning in this world. It also means a sense of pride, but also a broken past.'
so true - u have an amazing way of explaining this so clearly. I know Thomas! ha.
Much love :)
I had so much fun volunteering at the AMCA's Friday! Thanks again, awesome post!
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