The land that we now call Jasper National Park has a long history that extends back well before the park’s creation.
That history, as well as the culture of those who inhabited the land, was celebrated, June 20, during Jasper’s National Aboriginal Day festivities, hosted on the information centre lawn.
Prior to the park’s formation in 1907, Jasper was used by more than 20 Aboriginal groups for hunting and gathering and it was home to Jasper House, the area’s first fur trade post.
During the fur trade, Métis, First Nations and Inuit people worked as guides and interpreters for European settlers, helping them to navigate their way through Jasper’s mountainous landscapes.
“Our ancestors shared the land, its resources, our medicines, our water routes and our traditional skills,” said Audrey Poitras, president of the Métis Nation of Alberta, during the National Aboriginal Day festivities last weekend. “The strength and the wisdom of our ancestors was key to the development of the Canada that we know now.
“National Aboriginal Day is a special day set aside by the Government of Canada to recognize the first peoples of this country. Days like today provide us all with an opportunity to take time to get to know each other, to appreciate each other and to accept each other.
“For us everyday is Aboriginal Day; we will continue to contribute everyday the best that we have within us, to each other, to our communities, to our province and to our country and we invite you to share yourselves with us, as we share with you our uniqueness, our culture and all that makes us truly Aboriginal.”
National Aboriginal Day was initiated in 1996 by then-Governor General Romeo LeBlanc. It was created by the Assembly of First Nations as a day to unite and celebrate indigenous cultures.
Each year, Jasper National Park celebrates the day with a cultural gathering on the information centre lawn and Parks Canada co-hosts the event with a different Aboriginal group with traditional ties to the park.
This year’s co-host was the Métis Nation of British Columbia. The organization highlighted its culture through music, games and Métis jigging and also took the opportunity to recognize Parks’ long-time Aboriginal liaison officer, Sherrill Meropoulis.
During the opening ceremonies, Lisa Shepherd of the Métis Nation of B.C., asked Meropoulis to come on stage for a special presentation.
“The Métis Nation of B.C. would like to sash Sherrill Meropoulis for all of her work and for being such a friend to the Jasper Aboriginal Forum,” she announced.
Receiving a traditional Métis sash is an honour bestowed on people who perform exceptional work in support of Métis people. During the brief ceremony, Bruce Dumont, the president of the Métis Nation of B.C., placed the woven wool sash over Meropoulis the traditional way, across the shoulders from left to right, and gave her a hug.
Dumont told the crowd that the Métis Nation of B.C. was humbled to be co-hosting the event and he thanked the hundreds of people who gathered on the lawn for attending the celebrations.
Greg Fenton, superintendent of Jasper National Park, and Dwain Wacko, deputy mayor of Jasper, also spoke, acknowledging the recent report released by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which referred to the Indian Residential School System as committing “cultural genocide.”
“We recognize the significance of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and are hopeful for a speedy and, more importantly, an effective healing journey,” said Wacko.
Fenton pointed out that, for Parks Canada, reconciliation with the Aboriginal groups displaced by the creation of the park has been the goal for a number of years.
“We invite ceremony and education about the history and connection of our Aboriginal partners to this national park as a way forward towards healing and towards reconciliation,” he said.
“Parks Canada will continue to work closely with Aboriginal communities to ensure that Aboriginal voices and stories become an integral part of the management of this great place we call Jasper National Park.”
Nicole Veerman
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