Thunder Bay community celebrates Aboriginal culture

The culture and heritage of First Nations people was celebrated March 11 during the Spirit of Anishnabae Celebration at the CLE Coliseum in Thunder Bay.
“It’s a living culture and a living heritage that people are seeing,” said Dave Simard, emcee for the Spirit of Anishnabae Celebration and a member of the Thunder Mountain Singers.
“It’s something the kids can bring home – it’s something real for them rather than just being something in a book.”
Organized by the Community Arts & Heritage Education Project (CAHEP) in partnership with the Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board and Thunder Bay Aboriginal Arts & Heritage Group, the Spirit of Anishnabae Celebration featured 15 dancers in full regalia and the award-winning Thunder Mountain Singers.
About 1,200 students from 15 Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board schools took part in the third annual event, which was split up into morning and afternoon sessions.
Simard also shared some stories about the different styles of songs and dances presented during the event.
“It’s a good way to start off the spring for many of the singers and dancers that are going on the powwow trail,” Simard said.
Simard has seen a growing interest in First Nations culture since the first Spirit of Anishnabae Celebration was held.
“The feedback that we’ve had has always been positive,” Simard said.
“Many of the teachers at the end of this will be asking me a million questions about our culture, our heritage, our language, our songs and dances.”
The students were divided into four groups, with each group of students chosen by one of the different styles of dancers, including grass dancers, fancy shawl dancers, men’s traditional dancers and a hoop dancer, to dance with them after they had demonstrated their own style of dancing.
“The kids love this event – it’s a chance to share cultures,” said Rita Zavagnin, a program manager with CAHEP.
“A lot of the kids who are at schools who go to powwows with their families come with their own regalia.
“It gives them a chance to share that with their fellow students.”
CAHEP also delivers about 100 hands-on sessions with the schools over the school year.
“Some are craft based where the students are making things like medicine pouches or rattles or drums,” said Pam Cain, CAHEP’s executive director.
Students also learned Aboriginal legends and storytelling, regalia and song writing.