National Indigenous Peoples Day will bring the community together across Maple Ridge to celebrate and learn about the cultures and traditions of Indigenous people.
There will be Katzie First Nation drummers, Metis jiggers, and storytellers, along with a host of other music, dance, and arts activities.
But working behind the scenes is an elder from the Katzie First Nation, whose guidance brings Indigenous events, like this one, together.
Coleen Pierre is an elder and knowledge keeper with the Katzie First Nation – in which she was born and raised and now resides in.
She is also a cultural resources facilitator, who is involved with teaching people, of all walks of life, about the history and culture of the Katzie First Nation.
Pierre will find herself teaching people on parole or probation, in addition to students in schools throughout the district, and giving presentations on drumming and singing.
In fact, Pierre is involved both directly and indirectly with up to 27 organizations within her traditional territory.
She co-facilitates a women’s support group where they learn various arts and crafts and activities every Thursday.
Some of the skills they gained over the past two years include: beadwork, ribbon skirts, dream catchers.
“What I appreciate about that group itself is the fact of having, everyone one of them contribute to that group,” she said.
And she is also asked to host circles with the Ministry of Children and Family Development.
Pierre noted that a lot of the local organizations ask the Katzie to participate and learn about the First Nation’s protocols.
Pierre will often receive a call or a visit at her house and she will teach those who ask about gift offering and land acknowledgement.
Pride In The Park is another event where organizers ask for Katzie input.
Pierre said it all started as more and more community organizations started inviting the Katzie First Nation to participate in their events by doing the official welcome and the traditional blessing by way of song.
However, chief and council found themselves busy, she said, meeting with all levels of government and their agendas were too full to attend every event, so they started asking Pierre to represent.
“I love what I do and I do what I love to do,” she said.
RELATED: Katzie First Nation building new business park
Pierre is also a common sight in Memorial Peace Park where she meets with a number of the homeless who hang out there and even hosts a drop-in centre where she meets with the homeless once a week. And she is involved with those that reside in the modular housing.
“It’s a pretty tough job because you have to learn to gain the trust and respect of the residents at the modular units,” she said.
This weekend Pierre will be joining Chief Grace George in the opening ceremonies and singing the opening prayer song for National Indigenous Peoples Day in Maple Ridge.
The theme this year is connections, recognizing the web of connections between Indigenous communities, as well as connections that Indigenous peoples have with the land, culture, and history of Canada.
There will be storytelling, music, dance, and art – as well as workshops and presentations by local Indigenous leaders and experts – celebrating Indigenous cultures and traditions.
ALSO: Katzie First Nation orders Trans Mountain to stop work on their land
“We are honoured to host National Indigenous Peoples Day celebrations and share in our diversity, creativity, and resiliency. Through this year’s theme of ‘connections,’ we hope to foster understanding, respect, and friendship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples and to build a more inclusive and equitable community,” said Ginna Berg, executive director of the Fraser River Indigenous Society.
“The National Indigenous Peoples Day celebrations in Maple Ridge are organized by Fraser River Indigenous Society, with the support of the City of Maple Ridge, PLEA Society, and with guidance and wisdom of Elder Coleen Pierre of the Katzie Nation,” added Berg.
As in previous years, a local artist will have their artwork as the centerpiece of the event, printed on posters and T-shirts. This years artwork winner is Liberty “Josephine” Stump, an 18-year-old artist originally from Williams Lake, B.C..
National Indigenous Peoples Day will be celebrated from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 17, in Memorial Peace Park, downtown Maple Ridge, along 224th Street between Dewdney Trunk Road and Lougheed Highway.
Have a story tip? Email: cflanagan@mapleridgenews.com
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.