Southwest residents, families, and more can embrace Indigenous heritage and celebrate multiculturalism this weekend with several family-fun activities in Swift Current.
National Indigenous Peoples Day, coming up on June 21, was proclaimed at City Council last week with members of Lii Bufloo and the local Indigenous community.
Barb Parchman, member at large with Lii Bufloo Metis Local #35 and community elder, detailed that a duo of events will be taking place over the weekend, highlighting Indigenous heritage and more.
"We are happy to be taking part in Indigenous Day again this year," said Parchman. "For so many years, the Indigenous people had to hide our culture and our identity; we are starting to explore that, bring it back into our community, and share it with the greater community."
This Saturday, folks can stop by the Swift Current Museum to celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day with children's activities, crafts, traditional Metis games, and more. Lii Bufloo will host the event, which is scheduled to run from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Then on Sunday, the Southwest Newcomer Welcome Centre plans to hold the Festival of Cultures as a part of Multicultural Family Fun Day, from 10:0 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in Riverside Park. Families will be able to enjoy cultural performances, games, face painting, henna tattoos, food vendors, and more.
Swift Current City councillor, Ryan Plewis, shared that these types of individual communities within the larger blended community are what make it interesting, strong, and unique.
"We can only have that if people feel that it's okay to be Metis," Plewis added. "It's something to be proud of and I'm glad we have a day to celebrate being Metis, because it's certainly something to celebrate."
Additionally, Tourism Swift Current is set to host a flag raising and Canada Together celebration on July 1 at noon in Memorial Park to pay tribute to Canada's diverse culture and history. The celebration will include live performances, a community art project, and a free barbecue with cupcakes.
For more information about the celebratory activities coming up, visit Lii Vufloo Metis Local #35 on Facebook or head to the City of Swift Current on Instagram.