National Aboriginal Day celebrations in La Ronge

National Aboriginal Day was first proclaimed and celebrated throughout Canada on June 21, 1996. Aboriginal Day is celebrated annually to commemorate the many contributions Aboriginal People (First Nations, Metis, and Inuit) have made throughout Canada, both historically and present day. June 21st is a significant date; it marks the coming of summer (summer solstice), which has always been symbolic to Aboriginals. Many communities in Canada celebrate National Aboriginal Day in there own unique way, but there is one underlying common goal each shares, which is celebrating Aboriginal culture and heritage.



Aboriginal Day in La Ronge was hosted by the Lac La Ronge Indian Band in conjunction with Kikinahk Friendship Centre. The day was full of excitement and activities, as the children of La Ronge took part in a parade entitled "We Are The Future". The parade began at the town beach, where the children made their way up La Ronge Avenue towards the rendezvous point at Morin's Hill Beach on Kitsaki Reserve. There they greeted in song the Treaty Party travelling by canoe from La Ronge Beach to Morin's Hill Beach on Kitsaki Reserve.



The Treaty Party was comprised of provincial and municipal levels of government, as well as a number chiefs and councillors, and there were Metis representatives who came from all over the province to celebrate Aboriginal Day with us in La Ronge.



Chief Tammy Cook-Searson, along with councillors Pam Mirasty, Hillary Cook, and Doris Morin of the Lac La Ronge Indian Band prepare to make the voyage from the town beach to Morin's Hill. Also on hand the Lieutenant Governor Dr. Gordon L. Barnhardt, and RCMP Superintendent North District Commander Russell Mirasty.



Chief Tammy Cook-Searson displays the Lac La Ronge Indian Band flag as the Treaty Party travels from La Ronge Beach to Morin's Hill Beach, Kitsaki Reserve. This is the second year in a row that this voyage has been made; it is made to commemorate how our aboriginal ancestors use to make the same journey hundreds of years ago.



Members of the Treaty Party display the Metis and Canadian flags.

Communities in Bloom

The La Ronge and area Communities in Bloom Committee have identified the Welcome to La Ronge sign on the corner of Highway #2 and Brown Street at the entrance to La Ronge as one of their beautification projects. The Committee will be competing in the provincial competition with other communities in the same population category. A panel of judges will be visiting La Ronge this summer to assess the Committee's progress.

The project will include a collection of native trees and rock groupings on either side of the sign. An assortment of shrubs and flowers will be planted in front of the sign finished off with stone edging.



These improvements are in conjunction with the Town of La Ronge Recreation Board's plan to install stone pillars to frame the sign and a stone wall with flower planters.

Keep Up the Good Work and Good Luck in the Competition!

Musical Ride Performance a Great Success

The R.C.M.P. Musical ride performance last night was by all accounts a great success, with thousands in attendance.

The show, sponsored and organized by the local Elks club #554, started at 6:30, with performances from the Pre Cam Elementary Cheerleaders and Pre Cam Hoop Dancers, as well as Jana Bear from Little Pine First Nation, who has been hoop dancing for fifteen years.

The R.C.M.P. Musical Ride performance itself started at 7:30, showing beautiful precision and outstanding equestrian skill. Over the 25-minute show, the riders demonstrated a variety of formations and marches to period music. Clad in their red serges and riding breeches, the ride was a poignant reminder of the R.C.M.P. in days past.

Admission to the ride was free, with all donations going towards the Elks and Royal Purple's Fund for Sick Children.

R.C.M.P Meet & Greet

The staff of the Lac La Ronge Visitor Centre had the opportunity to attend a social evening between community dignitaries and the members of the R.C.M.P. Musical Ride. The social was jointly hosted by Northern Saskatchewan Tourism (NST) and Woodlands and Waterways Regional Development Corporation (WWRDC). We would like to thank the La Ronge Co-op for generously donating fruit plates for the social.

This event was an excellent opportunity to meet the men and women of the RCMP who serve Canada everyday in police work as well as ambassadors during their three year commitment to the Muscial Ride. The night was a great success and enjoyed by all!

The La Ronge and District Elk's Club will be hosting The Musical Ride performance on Tuesday evening at 6:30 on June 5th at the Elk's Fair Grounds, north of the town of La Ronge. The horses will be stabled today and tommorow, 9AM to 9PM at the La Ronge Uniplex. Visitors Welcome.