INUVIK
Elders from across Inuvik who took part in the annual Aboriginal Day celebrations June 21 were united in describing the day as a holiday closest to their hearts.

Inuvialuit elder Lillian Elias of the Inuvik Drummers and Dancers kicks up her heels to celebrate Aboriginal Day on June 21. - Shawn Giilck/NNSL photo

Hundreds of people gathered to take in the festivities, including a free barbecue and fish fry, along with drum dancing and jigging demonstrations, but the real reason for having the day wasn't far from the hearts of many of the people in attendance.

Mabel Brown, a Gwich'in elder, said "this is a day being celebrated all across Canada and all around North America."

"So we do this for the people here. We have activities for people in our own region, and it's just a mixing of cultures and peoples.

"I see lots of visitors coming in and I hope they ask lots of questions and enjoy this day, and find out something about what Aboriginal Day really means to all of us. We want to celebrate life, and a lifestyle."

Sara Jerome, a Gwich'in elder, said she wanted to remind people of the Gwich'in Tribal Council slogan, which is "Proud to be Gwich'in."

"This is what it's all about," she said. "We're proud of where we're coming from, such a strong nation of people who lived out on the land in very severe conditions. But they didn't look at it like that.

Today we're taking back that knowledge, we're taking back that power, we're showing people we are a very, very strong nation, and we're passing on our knowledge, not just to our own people but to Canadians, showing we're a strong people and we're proud of it and we're going to continue to celebrate it.

But it's just wonderful how we have such a multicultural society here, and it's just so great to see so many of them here joining us."

Jerome said most Canadians should realize that despite the residential schools tragedy, that aboriginal peoples have retained their culture and their power and they're not foresaking it.

"So many of our people are now realizing education is the way to go, and they're getting educated and hopefully we'll have more of our aboriginal people taking over positions of authority and power."

Winston Moses, another Gwich'in elder, said the day was important because it helps people to "recognize us as a culture and as a people."

"I think it's a very important holiday, and one of our biggest of the year," said Gerry Kisoun. "It's about time we started recognizing some of the first people's here."

He recollected participating in the first Aboriginal Day celebrations close to two decades ago.

"It was a great start. I remember I walked in there, and I didn't leave there until about 2 a.m. Now we have a bigger venue, and I think we're having a great time."

Inuvik Boot Lake MLA Alfred Moses said "it's a great day to celebrate and honour our culture and traditions."

He also touched on the cosmopolitan nature of Inuvik.

"I'd say Inuvik is one of the most diverse communities in the NWT," Moses said. "We have so many cultures here and everybody has an appreciation for everyone else's culture. It's great to see."

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