Teepees set up at Kin Park in Medicine Hat as part of Indigenous Peoples Day (photo courtesy Bob Schneider)

By Chantal Wagner

week-long event

Celebrating National Indigenous Peoples Day

Jun 17, 2020 | 2:43 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – National Indigenous Peoples Day is on Sunday, and there’s a week-long event in place to help celebrate.

Carol Syrette, youth program manager at the Miywasin Friendship Centre says families can learn about indigenous culture and teachings by visiting eight sites around the city.

She encourages residents to take a photo and use the hashtag on social media for a chance to win a prize while experiencing Medicine Hat.

Locations include Saamis Employment & Training, Strathcona Park, and Memorial Park where you can learn about the indigenous veterans.

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“On 1st street, the youth program did a mural for red dress day and so its a memorial for the missing and murdered indigenous women, and our youth were involved with that with an indigenous spray paint artist,” Syrette said.

Brenda Mercer, program coordinator at the Miywasin Friendship Centre says there are different facts on every site, including the Saamis Teepee where there’s an archaeological site that was a wintering camp. She says it’s estimated to have over 83-million artifacts down below the teepee.

“Medicine Hat has a really rich history about indigenous people being here for thousands of years and I think the more we educate people and get them out to see the sites then maybe the more interest there would be in Metis, Inuit, and First Nations people here in Medicine Hat,” Mercer said.

Syrette adds it’s a chance to learn about the rich history in Medicine Hat, “We’re hoping that this is a way that families can get out and experience Medicine Hat. We also have prizes for the families who are attending, if they take a selfie they can enter to win one of the gift baskets.”

When posting to social media, use the #NIPDMEDHAT for a chance to win.

Or email them to brendamercer64@gmail.com

The prize draw will take place on Monday, June 22.

Saamis Employment & Training would usually host a powwow at Kin Park with all the teepees, but it has been cancelled for this year.