The unrelenting social life of Alert Bay continued today with several events centered around National Aboriginal Day, set aside by the government to honor Canada's First Nations. The Namgis band started the day with a thanksgiving ceremony in the Big House, which we didn't get to.
Followed by a picnic on the beach and the opening of a photography exhibit by ? (I can't remember his name, I'll have to look it up and put it in later). Anyway, he was photographer and poet in residence for Amnesty International for a while because of his work showing the struggles of indigenous people.
One of the traditional canoes was there filling up with kids, paddling out a little way and coming back to discharge the group and pick up some more.
The weather turned hazy and warmer and the atmosphere on the beach was so peaceful. There were tables set up with hot dogs, buns, condiments, fruit, water, juice and cake. There were two fires on the beach and sharpened sticks for roasting the hot dogs.
People stood around the fires while kids splashed in the water and played in the trees on the grounds of the old St. Michael's school.
St. Michael's was a school set up by the Anglicans and the government to "civilize" the native children. They were removed from their homes and brought to the boarding school. The same happened in the US. The Shawnee Mission School in Roeland Park is an example. The Namgis have left the building to ruin. They had a healing ceremony a few years ago with elders who had been to school there.
After a couple of hot dogs, some watermelon and a piece of cake, Ian and I were ready for a nap!
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