The new cultural area is part of an ongoing collaborative process of reconnection and reconciliation between Parks Canada and the more than 20 Aboriginal communities who were displaced when Jasper became a national park in 1907. That year, Aboriginal peoples who resided in the area were no longer allowed to practice their traditional ways of hunting and gathering, so they were forced to leave.
In 2006, the Jasper Aboriginal Forum formed to create a dialogue between Parks Canada and First Nations and Métis communities with historic ties to JNP. Any member of the Jasper Aboriginal Forum can book or use the cultural site, said Sherrill Meropoulis, JNP’s Aboriginal liaison
The area offers basic facilities like water, garbage and outhouses. The area can be booked for seven days at a time and can accommodate a maximum of 60 overnight campers; larger groups will have to spend the night elsewhere.
When setting out guidelines for the area, participants identified five principles. Two are “a place set apart that offers privacy in a natural setting, and a learning journey where Aboriginal partners and Parks Canada learn from one another as they work together in the spirit of reconciliation.”
The other principles outline a shared responsibility between Parks and its Aboriginal partners for care and maintenance, and that both Aboriginal ways and the national park are honoured.
“The site will not be used for commercial activities,” said Meropoulis. “It’s about reconnecting and sharing stories.” Traditional Aboriginal practices like sweat lodges, culture camps, elder-youth teachings and other cultural events can take place on site.
“We have developed a provisional use guideline and there is an overarching charter that goes along with it and it will be co-signed by all the stakeholders,” she adds. “The intention behind doing that is to demonstrate a shared commitment of success for the Jasper Aboriginal Cultural Area.”
Aboriginal communities requested a site that offers privacy, so “in the future there will be a gate at the site with signage that either invites the public in, or requests privacy.”
Sucker Creek First Nation has invited the public to the Jasper Aboriginal Culture Area on Saturday, June 22, to help them celebrate Aboriginal Day with traditional dancing and a feast.
That celebration will take place after the Aboriginal Day festivities taking place on the Visitor Information Centre lawn from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. “We have a fabulous line up for the day,” said Meropoulis.
There will be a grand entrance, Métis dancing, archery demonstrations, a fashion show and traditional food. There’s also an opportunity to learn how to make a wilderness first aid kit out of naturally occurring items in the environment.
Capping off the day will be a storyteller, Aboriginal flute player and hoop dancer at the Whistler Outdoor Theatre from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Meropoulis encourages “Jasperites and visitors to come on out and celebrate with us and learn more about the traditional communities who once occupied Jasper National Park.”
