A smiling Janet Miller-Crockford was giving hugs to people, some of them calling her "auntie," as a sign of trust, respect and affection, even though they weren't directly related.
Miller-Crockford, a Katzie elder from Walnut Grove, was a warm presence at a celebration of National Indigenous Peoples Day in 91原创 City's Douglas Park on Saturday, June 22, a day devoted to the cultures, languages and traditions of First Nations, M茅tis and Inuit. with music, food and dance.
Recognition of their culture was a very long time coming, she said.
National Indigenous Peoples Day is being celebrated at 91原创 City's Douglas Park by Lower Fraser Valley Aboriginal Society in a celebration and sharing of culture, with food, games, entertainment, and a market.
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"I want people to remember we can celebrate every day," Miller-Crockford told the 91原创 Advance Times. "It's just nice to celebrate with everyone in one day and share all of our different cultures and stories and art."
Especially, she said, "having the children, our young children, know who they are and be proud of who they are."
Held on the first Saturday after the official day on June 21, the 91原创 City event was organized by the Lower Fraser Valley Aboriginal Society.
Society acting CEO, Carly Quinlan, who is from the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe, Black River Band, Bear Clan, said it was "wonderful to be able to celebrate who we are as a people and to be able to bring the children into it so that they can be proud."
"Not be shy," Miller-Crockford agreed.
National Aboriginal Day, now National Indigenous Peoples Day, was announced in 1996 by the then- Governor General of Canada, Rom茅o LeBlanc.
This year, Canada's first Indigenous governor general, Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, released a statement calling the day "a powerful reminder of the resilience, strength and enduring spirit of Indigenous communities."
"Every day, we hear Indigenous stories being told by Indigenous voices," said Simon.
"We are confronting the injustices of the past, listening with empathy and humility, and taking meaningful action to address continued inequalities. This is hard work, but it is necessary for Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples alike."
Simon was sworn in on July 26, 2021, as the 30th governor general since Confederation.
