James Doman (right) and Roger Fraser, lost in the smoke of their fish fry. The pair sweated over the grill as they tried to keep up with the lineups.

Jorge Barrera
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Jun 23/00) - Aboriginal Day was celebrated yesterday in Petitot Park on the shores of Frame Lake. June 21 is a day set aside for celebrating the first people who lived on the land now called Canada.

This day is also a reminder of how far Canada still has to go in fully recognizing its partnership with aboriginal peoples.

Bill Enge, president of the Yellowknife Metis Local 66, says Aboriginal Day should be a statutory holiday.

"Today is a day to recognize our contribution," he said.

"There is movement afoot to make it a statutory holiday as opposed to Victoria Day, an archaic celebration of colonialism that doesn't represent Canada any more," he added.

"It most definitely should be a statutory holiday," said George Morin, president of the Metis Nation.

"It's not fair that our people who work have to be in offices, they should be celebrating," said Morin.

Jake Ootes, minister of Education, Culture and Employment, said the legislature dedicated the day to discussing aboriginal issues.

"That today should be a statutory holiday was seriously discussed," he added.

Organizers agreed there was a pinch on the volunteer side of things and said things would be easier if it was at least a civic holiday.

"Because it was a weekday it was hectic getting volunteers, and it made things a little more difficult," said Petitot Park celebration organizer Karen Wright.

"It turned out well, but I think it makes more sense to make it a civic or territorial holiday," said co-organizer Marilyn Pike.

The organizers passed around a petition in support of making June 21 a territorial holiday.

But for now the rain stayed away and everybody enjoyed the fried fish and the music.

The day began with a sweetgrass purification ceremony.

Tom Eagle went person to person around a circle with the smoking herbs, allowing each one to bathe themselves in the smoke.

Bill Carpenter, representative with the World Wildlife Fund, couldn't get over how good the fish was.

"The supper was really good, it's a great atmosphere," said Carpenter.

William Greenland, emcee for the evening, said things went great.

"The crowd was into the music, everyone had fun and the performers were great."

The Tone Rangers brought the house down with their Creedence Clearwater Revival cover and Inuit throat singers Sarah Kuniliusee and Goota Ashoona received a rousing ovation.

The event also hosted a fashion show courtesy of Yellowknife designer Berna Beaulieu.

Models strolled through the crowd with graduation gowns and wedding outfits, all original Beaulieu designs.

As the smell of fried fish and mosquito repellant faded into the evening, the last performer, a blind Inuit girl, stood at the microphone and sang Fernando with no instruments. Her name was Angela Kalluk from Clyde River.