Semiahmoo First Nation was at the forefront of National Aboriginal Day celebrations Wednesday at Bridgeview Community Centre in North Surrey.
Chief Harley Chappell was official welcomer at the ceremonies, which also included members of the Kwantlen and Katzie First Nations and representatives from other indigenous peoples.
Among them was Russell Cardinal, a Plains Cree dancer, whose clothing included eagle feathers, bear claws and moose hide.
Chappell’s own children were also among those performing traditional dances at the event.
“We’re celebrating the era of reconciliation and celebrating the time…we can stand up and be proud and honour who we are, and honour the words our old people left, so that we can continue on in a good way,” Chappell told the crowd.
– Alex Browne
Speech from Chief of Semiahmoo First Nation Harley Chappell on #NationalAboriginalDay in #SurreyBC
Posted by Surrey Now-Leader Newspaper on Wednesday, June 21, 2017
