Native culture shared and celebrated at Assabaska Park

Ken Johnston
Editor

As part of National Aboriginal Day, Assabaska Ojibway Heritage Park hosted a day of cultural and fun experiences last Thursday.
The day began with traditional drumming and singing lead by Big Island Elder Joseph Big George. Big George explained to the people in attendance how the drum being used has been passed from elder to elder for more than one hundred years. The Grandmother's Drum was brought across Lake of the Woods from the Northwest Angle to Big Island about 100 years ago. It was passed from elder to elder until it was in care of Joseph's brother Willie. When he passed away it was passed to Joeseph.
He explained that Lake of the Woods used to be known as Sand Dunes Lake by the Indian people. That was before non-native explorers came to the area and named it Lake of the Woods. Tobacco plays an important part of the drumming and singing tradition.
The pipe is smoked before singing and drumming begins. The traditional songs are sung so that those that have gone before can hear the music in the spirit world.
A traditional prayer is offered after the singing to bless the celebration and pray for safe keeping of all people no matter what race.
In that prayer the lake is always referred to as Dunes Lake as it was known long ago.
Following the songs and prayer Garnet Comegan explained the traditional hoop dance and then performed it. He noted that it used to be a ceremonial dance used to train warriors and tell tales more graphically.
Warriors learn it to help them hide from their prey. He explained that the circular hoop is symbolic of the circle of life. Everyone walks it and starts at the top. As they get older they come back around to the top.
A feast followed for all present as did making and baking of bannock.
Canoe races and baseball as well as an evening feast were held.
The entire day was free to the general public.