Cultural pride will be the order of the day when the Secwepemc flag is raised in front of city hall.
The Adams Lake Band is hosting Aboriginal Day Saturday, June 21 and is inviting natives and non-natives to join the band for a cultural experience – an opportunity to learn, grow and interact.
The four-hour event will open at 10 a.m. at Fletcher Park with opening prayers and will feature entertainment, food and more.
The Shuswap Nation (Secwepemc) flag will be raised at 10:50 in a ceremony that will be led by Adams Lake Chief Nelson Leon and include Mayor Nancy Cooper and members of Salmon Arm council.
At 2 p.m., cross the street to First United Church to view Dancing Bear, a film about champion fancy dancer Ernie Philip of the Little Shuswap Band, who will also perform a flag song.
Philip will speak following the film presentation and will respond to questions from the audience.
“This is a great opportunity for us to better understand, and respect our neighbours,” says Dan MacQuarrie, who is organizing this portion of Aboriginal Day.
For the history of Dancing Bear visit http://www.dancingbear.info.