Fourth Annual Northern Aboriginal Festival Takes Place This Weekend

Click here to view the Aboriginal Youth Day Brochure.

SUDBURY, ON—This weekend, the sounds of friendship, music and dance will fill the Sudbury Community Arena during the fourth annual Northern Aboriginal Festival. Cambrian College, Laurentian University, Collège Boréal, and the City of Greater Sudbury will be welcoming students, community members and special guests to the event on October 1 and 2, 2011.

The festival will showcase and celebrate many forms of Aboriginal culture throughout the two-day gathering that is open to the entire community. It will include a pow-wow and vendors’ market, which will feature food, crafts, artisans and information kiosks.

Opening Ceremonies will commence at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, with the first Grand Entry beginning at 12 p.m. There will also be Inter-Tribal dancing, and feature performances.

“From its inception, this festival has focused on bringing people together,” said Dr. Sheila Cote-Meek, Associate Vice-President, Academic & Indigenous Programs at Laurentian University. “Years ago, Laurentian University and Cambrian College hosted individual on-campus pow-wows, but since this festival was founded in 2007, it’s been a tremendous success, gathering students and members of the larger community together to celebrate Aboriginal culture and achievement.”

“The Festival is for anyone who’s committed to Aboriginal culture, or just curious to learn more about it,” said Cambrian President, Sylvia Barnard. “It’s a chance for Aboriginal people to share their culture with others, and pass it down from one generation to the next. With approximately 600 Aboriginal students on campus at Cambrian, we’re a proud supporter of the event.”

Collège Boréal President, Denis Hubert-Dutrisac, added that the Northern Aboriginal Festival represents another opportunity for this post-secondary institution to encourage the development of all the Aboriginal community. “Our commitment towards the Northern Aboriginal Festival is one of the many initiatives set up by Collège Boréal such as the inauguration of the Centre Louis-Riel, last November, and the Métis educational canoe that’s under construction, in front of our main campus in Sudbury.”

In the Ojibway language, Sudbury is known as “N’Swakamok,” which translates into “where the three roads meet.” Greater Sudbury Mayor Marianne Matichuk explained that the Festival “is a way to commemorate our rich and diverse community and to show others that it is one that we can be proud to call home. It’s a celebration of culture and peace and of the human spirit.”

This year, the Festival also includes an Education Day on Monday, October 3, coordinated and supported by the Rainbow District School Board. Students from Rainbow Schools and local First Nation community schools will attend this event, which was made possible by financial support from Vale.

“The Youth Education Day component of the festival provides students with the opportunity to explore secondary and postsecondary programs and career pathways,” said Kathy Dokis-Ranney, Principal of First Nation, Métis and Inuit Education with Rainbow District School Board. “Students will also have an opportunity to participate in cultural workshops and sample traditional food. Elder teachings about Respect will also be shared with all.”

This year, Youth Education Day will feature musical guest Jacinthe Trudeau and daughter Isabelle Seguin.

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Reference:
Lynn Bulloch
Communications Officer
Cambrian College
(705) 566-8101, extension 6375
[email protected]
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