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By Gates Guarin

'We’re glad to be having it come back to the city'

Teepee village and powwow planned for National Indigenous Peoples Day

Jun 17, 2022 | 4:07 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Teepees will begin to rise tomorrow in preparation for National Indigenous Peoples Day.

The Saamis Employment and Training Association (SETA) will be raising a teepee village at Kin Park tomorrow starting at 10 a.m. Around 12 teepees will be raised in order to set the stage for a demonstration powwow, which will take place on National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21.

The day honours the past, present and futures of Indigenous peoples across Canada. The teepees raised will have painted canvasses to signify the different nations around the Medicine Hat area.

While larger events have been held by SETA in the past, this will be the first in-person event hosted for National Indigenous Peoples Day in the city since the pandemic began.

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Anita Wagar, executive director for SETA, is glad to be able to hold events like this one, which brings the community together in order to recognize this significant day.

“It’s a little bit smaller than we would have liked to see and more last minute because we weren’t sure with the pandemic where it was going to go,” Wagar says. “We’re glad to be having it come back to the city and glad to be celebrating it, and great that we can come together now as a community and start this again.”

The demonstration powwow will be held on Tuesday afternoon from 1-3 p.m. The free event is open to everyone, and those wishing to take in the powwow are encouraged to bring a lawn chair. The teepee village will remain up for the rest of the week for anyone to take in the history, architecture and artwork.