ASSINIBOIA - According to Fox Weather.com, “Summer officially begins in the Northern Hemisphere on June 21, with the summer solstice, the day with the greatest amount of possible daylight, and the shortest [amount of] night.”
Not only is June 21 recognized as the first day of summer here, but it is also recognized as Canada’s National Indigenous People’s Day, a special day set aside to celebrate the culture and many significant contributions of First Nations, Inuit, and Metis Indigenous peoples of Canada.
This year’s Summer Solstice and National Indigenous People’s Day celebrations in Rockglen were held on June 22, organized by Angela Stewart of the Rockglen Public Library.
Early in the morning, a tipi, owned by Lakota artist Kim Soo Goodtrack, was erected in the Rockglen School yard for everyone to see. Goodtrack, a former educator, later delivered an interesting and educational presentation on the significance of tipis, to the students of Rockglen School.
“Each tipi pole has a special meaning,” said Ms. Goodtrack. “They represent the family values you wish to have in your home. The lacing pegs that hold the tipi together, remind you to be careful with your words, so you can keep your family together.”
Later, in an interview, Ms. Goodtrack said of Rockglen School students, “They were so interested and engaged … and so respectful. They were just lovely!”
Kim Soo Goodtrack is a member of the Lakota First Nations from Wood Mountain. Her Lakota Art gallery is located in Rockglen.
Other events that took place at Rockglen School included a spectacular indigenous hoop-dance by Regina resident Terrance Littletent, a member of the Kawacatoose Cree First Nation.
Wednesday was also a day of celebration to honour Stan Lethbridge, who is an elder and band councillor from the Wood Mountain Lakota First Nations reserve. He is also author of a new illustrated book called “Lowanpi Mato’s Tipi”.
He and special friend, Kim Soo Goodtrack, chose this special day for his book-signing and launch.
Of particular interest and note, both great grandmothers, belonging to Goodtrack and Lethbridge, walked across the Medicine Line into Canada with Sitting Bull after the Battle of the Little Bighorn and subsequent defeat of General Custer in July of 1876 in the USA.
“Our great grandmothers, who were young girls at the time, afraid and hungry, wondered if they even had a future to look forward to,” lamented Goodtrack.
She said of the celebrations at the school, “It was so wonderful that the children [graciously] thanked Stan [Lethbridge] for his lovely and informative book … a heart-warming tribute to ol’ bear Mato, himself.”
Lethbridge’s Lakota name is Lowanpi Mato. His book is available for sale online at Strong Nation’s publishing, and at the Lakota Art gallery in Rockglen.
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