City of Medicine Hat hosting National Indigenous Peoples Day celebration at City Hall on Friday

The formal program will include an opening prayer and smudge, an honour song, a land acknowledgement from Mayor Linnsie Clark, and remarks and performances from community members and Indigenous artists.

Scheduled participants include Blackfoot Elder Charlie Fox, who will lead the opening prayer and smudge, honour song performers Mekethia Fairbanks and Andrew Spotted Bull, guest speaker Brenda Mercer, jingle dancer Josie Saddleback and Métis jigger Aleigha Aaker.

A flag recognition ceremony will also be held, featuring the Blackfoot Confederacy, Métis Nation and Cree flags, followed by closing remarks from Métis Elder Sandi Hendry.

Following the formal program, attendees are encouraged to take part in an informal gathering featuring bite-sized baked bannock, strawberry drink and cedar tea. Activities will also include drumming, dancing, crafting and a teepee set up on the grass near Finlay Bridge.

A celebration on Sunday, June 21, organized by the Firekeepers Women’s Society, will take place at Riverside Veterans’ Memorial Park from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

The public is invited to attend that celebration that will include an opening by Elder Warren One Gun from the Siksika Nation. The event will include some local drumming, singing, dancing, storytelling, and more.

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READ: National Indigenous Peoples Day celebration at Medicine Hat City Hall on June 19 (June 1, 2026)

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READ: ‘We’ve been here for thousands of years’: Medicine Hat marks National Indigenous Peoples Day (June 21, 2024)

by Jesse Gill

City of Medicine Hat hosting National Indigenous Peoples Day celebration at City Hall on Friday

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