Mike W. Bryant
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (June 12/02) - Walter Brown, co-ordinator of this year's National Aboriginal Day celebrations in Yellowknife, says everything is set to go.

"We're there to celebrate," says Brown. "The idea is to have a fun day at the park, and that's what we're going to do."

The day, June 21, will begin with an opening prayer from former Tree of Peace director Tom Eagle at Somba K'e Park.

After that, the festivities will begin, including musical performances from CBC North Beat's Carol Morin, Leela Gilday, the Dettah Drummers, and headliner Ted Miltenberger and the Tone Rangers.

The event will also see the launch of a new CD featuring "O Canada" sung in all of the NWT's six official aboriginal languages.

Brown says National Aboriginal Day festivities promise to bring dignitaries and VIPs from all across Canada and the North, including Governor General Adrienne Clarkson.

It's been a lot of work since taking on the job again -- Brown was co-ordinator last year as well -- last February, but it was all worth it in the end.

"It's a day a lot of us take pride in, and that makes it good work for me," says Brown.

The Governor General's press secretary, Stewart Wheeler, says she is especially keen to celebrate National Aboriginal Day in the NWT, considering that the territory was the first Canadian jurisdiction to launch it as an official holiday.

"She's very much looking forward to spending National Aboriginal Day in Yellowknife, being that this year, the NWT has designated it a territorial holiday," says Wheeler.