The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall Visit Canada – Day Three
Yellowknife
Thursday, 19th May
Their Royal Highnesses will depart Ottawa for Yellowknife.
ARRIVAL
Their Royal Highnesses will arrive in Yellowknife.
ENGAGEMENT 15
Their Royal Highnesses will visit the Dettah Community.
Their Royal Highnesses will be welcomed by the two Chiefs for the Yellowknives Dene First Nation – Chief Edward Sangris (Dettah) and Chief Fred Sangris (Ndilo). The Premier of the Northwest Territories, The Honourable Caroline Cochrane, will then introduce herself before Their Royal Highnesses meet with representatives from the Northwest Territories Council of Leaders.
Dene National Chief, and Assembly of First Nations Regional Chief of the NWT, Gerald Antoine will then introduce himself to Their Royal Highnesses.
Their Royal Highnesses will be invited to participate in a Feeding the Fire Ceremony, facilitated by Elder Bernadette Martin. This ceremony will begin with an opening prayer followed by a prayer to the spirits. Drumming will accompany the ceremony. Their Royal Highnesses will put offerings of tobacco into the fire.
Their Royal Highnesses will then be escorted through demonstrations of hide scraping and tanning by Angela Lafferty, Director of Language, Culture and History for the YKDFN.
Background
Dettah is the Yellowknives Dene First Nation community in the Northern region of Great Slave Lake in the Northwest Territories, located approximately 6km from Yellowknife by the ice road or 27km via Ingraham Trail. Dettah is a part of the Akaitcho Territory Government. Their population is approximately 220 people. The name ‘Dettah’ means ‘charcoal’ or ‘burnt point’, which comes from a devastating fire that reduced the community to ashes in 1959.
Dettah used to be a much more isolated community until 1967 when Her Majesty The Queen’s first visit to the Northwest Territories prompted the construction of a connecting road between Dettah and Yellowknife.
Opened in 2009, the Chief Drygeese Government Building contributes to enhancing the community foundation and improve the quality of life for the people who live and work in Dettah.
ENGAGEMENT 16
His Royal Highness will attend a Round table with Yellowknives Dene First Nation Leadership.
His Royal Highness will be escorted inside Chief Drygeese Government Building to the Council Chambers by Elder Bernadette Martin. Upon arrival he will be met by Chief Edward Sangris and Chief Fred Sangris.
Following the roundtable discussion, Their Royal Highnesses will watch demonstrations of Dene Hand Game competitions and a traditional drum dance.
Akaitcho Territory
The people of Akaitcho, located South and East of Great Slave Lake, speak Chipewyan, Cree and Dogrib. Today, bison roam freely in one of the world’s largest parks, Wood Buffalo.
Akaitcho Dene and Métis live in Fort Resolution, Lutselk’e, Fort Smith, Dettah, Ndilo and Yellowknife.
Hand Games
Hand Games were played years ago as a form of gambling among friends and communities. Often, the games were played to gamble for bullets, furs, dogs, toboggans or stick matches. Today, however, Hand Games are played in cultural centres, community carnivals and other events all over the Dene region as a friendly competition fostering community pride. Drumming often accompanies the games. The Dene Hand Games are based on a simple concept of using elaborate hand signals and gestures to hide and find objects – the goal is for one team to correctly guess where the other team has hidden the tokens or sticks in play (usually hidden in blankets). There are a wide range of rules and signals, and each Dene community has variations that are complex and historically significant to the specific areas.
The Dene Drum Dance
The dance consists of drumming and singing, is performed at most gatherings and celebrations. The drummers sing and play their caribou hide drums in a rhythmic beat while dancing around in a circle (always clockwise, to follow the direction of the sun). The history of drumming comes from the story of Yamozha and Yamoria, twin brothers from a thousand years ago: they told the Dene people that they needed to provide entertainment for themselves and introduced them to the Drum, a gift from the Creator, so that they could sing and be happy. They gave a number of songs to the Dene people that continue to be performed today.
ENGAGEMENT 17
Her Royal Highness will visit Dettah’s Kaw Tay Whee Community School.
The Duchess will walk with Lea Lamoureux, Kaw Tay Whee School’s Principal from the community centre to the school.
The Duchess will then tour two classrooms. Her Royal Highness will firstly join the Junior Kindergarten class, taught by Ms. Sally Drygeese, assisted by her mother, Elder Mary Louise Drygeese, and participate in a Wıìlıìdeh language lesson. Her Royal Highness will receive a brief history of the language and be invited to learn some key words and phrases with the class.
The second classroom will be the Middle School Class, with pupils in grades two to five who will share details of their film projects.
Her Royal Highness will then be shown demonstrations of fish scale artwork and fish drying. Staff and students will explain the processes and history of the traditional activities and will share anecdotes of how and why they select certain topics and endeavours to learn about.
Her Royal Highness will pose for a group photo with the students and staff of Kaw Tay Whee School before departure.
Kaw Tay Whee School
Kaw Tay Whee School is the community school of Dettah, with a current student population of 34 students and 8 staff. They offer high quality, culturally responsive programming from full-day kindergarten to grade 8. They believe in instilling strong academic skills in their students so that they can be strong, confident members of society. They offer small class sizes with a high number of curriculum-based hands-on learning opportunities.
The Dene Kede and Dene Laws are a very important part of Kaw Tay Whee’s students’ learning and are intertwined in everything that is taught. The laws are as follows:
- Share what you have
- Help each other
- Love each other as much as possible
- Be respectful of Elders and everything around you
- Sleep at night and work during the day
- Be polite and don’t argue with anyone
- Young girls and boys should behave respectfully
- Pass on the teachings
- Be happy at all times
Kaw Tay Whee School is governed by the very supportive members of the Dettah District Education Authority and has many important stakeholders, including parents, community members, the Yellowknives Dene First Nation and Yellowknife Education District No. 1.
Kaw Tay Whee School is on Chief Drygeese Territory in the Akaitcho region, the traditional territory of the Yellowknives Dene First Nation.
Wıìlıìdeh
Wıìlıìdeh, a dialect of the Tłı̨chǫ (Dogrib) language), is one of the two traditional languages spoken by the Yellowknives Dene First Nation (the other being Tetsǫ̨́t’ıné Yatıé, a dialect of the Dëne Sųłıné (Chipewyan) language), and the dialect more commonly used in communities around Yellowknife, including Dettah and Ndilo. Those who speak one dialect are able to understand the other, but they are different enough that each dialect requires its own writing system and teaching materials to represent the languages accurately.
The local Wıìlıìdeh dialect is one of the key components of learning at the Kaw Tay Whee School. In order to help revitalize daily use of the Wıìlıìdeh dialect, the school is challenging its staff and students to use Wıìlıìdeh for communication during the school day and at home with their family and friends, part of their whole school approach to teaching and learning an Indigenous language.
Dried fish
Fish drying has been a practice followed by Indigenous Peoples for generations. In Dettah, Lake Whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis) caught on Great Slave Lake is used. The process involves gutting the fish, filleting it, and hanging it on poles to dry naturally over a fire for a couple of days.
ENGAGEMENT 18
The Prince of Wales will visit the Canadian Rangers at Fred Henne Territorial Park to mark the organization’s 75th anniversary.
On arrival, The Prince will be greeted by the Commanding Officer, the Group Sergeant Major, and the Honorary Colonel of the 1st Canadian Ranger Patrol Group. The Lieutenant-Colonel will present Sergeant Hitkolok, who will accompany YRH throughout the event.
His Royal Highness will proceed to a series of stations displaying the work of the Canadian Rangers, including uniforms and clothing worn by members in the cold Northern climate, a McPherson Tent showing Arctic and Subarctic sleeping arrangements, vehicles, and equipment used by Canadian Rangers during harsh temperatures.
His Royal Highness will have the opportunity to meet with Canadian Rangers, and discuss the impact of climate change on the work that they do. Each ranger will greet The Prince in their first language (they speak 26 different languages and dialects, many of which are Indigenous) and discuss the impact of climate change on the work that they do.
His Royal Highness will then meet with Junior Canadian Rangers, explore traditional skills taught in the Canadian Rangers and inspect a Junior Canadian Ranger tent.
His Royal highness will be appointed as an Honorary Canadian Ranger and given one of the iconic red Canadian Rangers hoodies, a Rangers jacket, and cap. His Royal Highness will then be invited to sign the Canadian Ranger Patrol Group Guest Book and present a certificate to the top Canadian Ranger Instructor with the Commanding Officer.
The Canadian Rangers
2022 marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Canadian Rangers.
The Canadian Rangers are a part of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Reserves working in remote, isolated and coastal regions of Canada. They provide lightly-equipped, self-sufficient mobile forces to support CAF national security and public safety operations within Canada. They regularly train alongside other CAF members to remain prepared. Their motto is ‘Vigilans,’ meaning ‘The Watchers.’ Some of the ways they protect Canada include: conducting patrols; reporting unusual activities or sightings, collecting local data for the CAF; performing sovereignty or national security duties; assisting in search and rescue efforts; and assisting with natural disasters such as forest fires and floods.
There are currently about 5,000 Canadian Rangers. Canadian Rangers live in more than 200 communities and speak 26 different languages and dialects, many Indigenous.
The 1st Canadian Ranger Patrol Group (1 CRPG) is responsible for Nunavut Territory, Yukon Territory, Northwest Territories, and Atlin, British Columbia, which accounts for about 40 percent of Canada’s land mass. 1 CRPG has an establishment of 2,000 Canadian Rangers in 61 patrols and more than 1,400 Junior Canadian Rangers (JCRs) in 44 patrols located in 65 communities across the north. The headquarters is located in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories and reports to 3rd Canadian Division. Canadian Rangers are part-time members that are paid when on duty and also receive Equipment Usage Rate for vehicles and equipment they use when participating in approved activities.
Fred Henne Territorial Park
The Park is a scenic camping park located three kilometers from downtown Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories, Canada. Set on the shores of Long Lake, it’s one of the busiest campgrounds in the region, home to more than 100 campsites, both electric and non-electric, as well as a sandy beach surrounded by relatively untouched wilderness. Named after a former mayor of Yellowknife, the park is listed as a Protected Area for good reason. Opportunities for outdoor recreation abound with a beach, grassy lawn and playground for kids, picnic areas, hiking trails, and an abundance of wildlife to be spotted.
ENGAGEMENT 19
The Prince of Wales will participate in a discussion with local experts on the impact of climate change in Northern Canada and the importance of Indigenous-led initiatives during his visit to Ice Road.
The Prince will be met at Rotary Centennial Park by the Director of Environmental Stewardship and Climate Change for the Government of the Northwest Territories, Mr. Julian Kanigan. Mr. Kanigan will lead His Royal Highness to the Ice Road entrance and introduce him to a local Professor and Permafrost Scientist, and a climate expert.
His Royal Highness will then meet with representatives of the Indigenous Leadership Initiative and the Boots on the Ground programme, to discuss the value of Indigenous-led environmental approaches and how Tlicho knowledge informs their work.
Lastly, His Royal Highness will be introduced to Mr. Mark Heyck, Executive Director of the Arctic Energy Alliance.
The Dettah Ice Road
The Ice Road connects Yellowknife and the small community of Dettah in the winter through the Great Slave Lake. The road is 6.4 km long, running across Yellowknife Bay. The road must be rebuilt each year. When the ice is 1 meter thick, it can support a truck fully loaded with over 40 metric tons (44 tons) of fuel. While the road has historically opened in late December, the last years have seen the opening delayed to early January. The Ice Road was open for the longest period in 1995 and 1996, at 140 days; while it was open for the shortest period in 2017 and 2019 at only 91 days. It is illegal to drive on the ice road until it’s officially open.
Climate Change Impacts on the Ice Road and the North:
- Longer ice-free seasons in the Arctic Ocean are leading to significant and rapid coastal erosion.
- Numerous buildings have been moved in the community of Tuktoyaktuk (on the Northern Coast of the Northwest Territories along the Artic Ocean), and the entire community may need to be relocated in the coming decades.
- Coastal erosion is exposing and washing away cultural and archaeological sites faster than they can be preserved.
- Warmer winters are shortening the season for winter ice roads that are lifelines for goods and people who live in communities that are only accessible by air.
The Environmental Stewardship and Climate Change Division of the Government of the Northwest Territories
The division leads the implementation of the government’s Knowledge Agenda, coordinates ENR’s input into environmental assessment and regulatory processes, and fulfils ENR’s regulatory obligation to monitor air quality and cumulative environmental impacts. The division also works to conserve land and water in the NWT in partnership with Indigenous governments and others.
The Northwest Territories Geological Survey (NTGS)
The Survey is a Division of the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment, Government of the Northwest Territories. They advance geoscience knowledge of the Northwest Territories (NWT) by conducting geoscience research, analysing mineral and petroleum resources, and offering excellent digital data.
The Indigenous Leadership Initiative (ILI)
The initiative is an Indigenous-led organization dedicated to advancing the role of Indigenous Nations in deciding the future of traditional territories. ILI has been leading the advocacy at the National-level to advance Indigenous-led conservation and stewardship, including advocating for further investments by the Government of Canada for an Indigenous-led approach; the creation of the National First Nations Guardians Network and the advancement of the model in various regions within Canada.
The Tlicho Government
The Government was created in 2005 when the Tlicho Nation ratified the Tlicho Agreement with the Government of Canada. Through this agreement certain rights relating to lands, resources and self-government were defined.
Boots on the Ground – Tłı̨cho Monitoring Caribou Program
The program is based on the traditional knowledge of Indigenous Elders and harvesters that began in 2016.
The program’s methodology, “Do as hunters do”, is based on the lifeways of hunters. From the elder’s holistic concept “we watch everything”, the researchers identify and wait at specific na’oke (water crossings) and follow caribou herds by boat and on foot to identify traditional knowledge indicators of a healthy environment by assessing caribou and habitat conditions, impacts from predators, climate change and industrial activities.
ENGAGEMENT 20
The Duchess of Cornwall will visit a YWCA transitional housing centre.
Her Royal Highness will be greeted by Hawa Dumbuya-Sesay, Executive Director of the centre, and escorted into the centre’s common room to meet staff members and beneficiaries of the program.
Her Royal Highness will then hear beneficiaries’ stories of going through the program, staff members’ long-term experiences, the impact reconciliation has on how programs are developed, as well as discussions about women-led initiatives and the services required for many women in the North. The Duchess will partake in these conversations while making Bannock, a form of bread that is a staple in Indigenous cuisine. The Duchess will then be shown a variety of handcrafted art pieces done by the women of the centre.
There will be a group photo opportunity at the conclusion of the visit.
YWCA transitional housing centre
The centre is otherwise known as Hoti Etsanda Ko in the Welledeh dialect of the Tlicho language, which means ‘healthy living place’ – is a transitional safe housing centre for women who are fleeing domestic violence and are in need of a stable and safe environment to call home.
The building itself contains 18 suites on 3 floors and offers a variety of layouts depending on the individual’s needs. Applicants are assessed for need and willingness to engage in the programming offered at the centre; rent is affordable, in accordance with Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) affordability guidelines, and tenants can stay for up to 3 years either by themselves or with their children.
During their stay at the centre, women are provided with support and guidance as well as advice on career development to help integrate them into the workforce so that they can lead self-sufficient lives. Basic life skills are also taught, such as cooking, literacy, budgeting, etc. Above all else, women support each other and build a safe and trustworthy community at The centre.
The Centre is operated by YWCA NWT (Young Women’s Christian Association, Northwest Territories) which runs two out of the five women’s shelters in the territory. YWCA itself is an international organization that was founded in the United Kingdom in 1855 and now has branches in over 100 countries, all of which focus on empowerment, leadership and rights of women and girls.
Bannock
Bannock been a staple in Northern Canadian cuisine for centuries. While the ingredients are relatively basic – water, flour, baking soda and lard, and sugar or salt depending on whether one is cooking a meal vs. dessert – it is a culinary art form that takes years to perfect. Classic Bannock has a smoky, nutty flavour blended with a buttery taste, whereas dessert Bannock usually resembles a donut or shortbread. Every family has their own take on Bannock – it can be cooked over almost every heat source and can therefore have a variety of flavours and textures.
The Duchess and Domestic Abuse
For several years, The Duchess has also highlighted the work of domestic abuse charities and the work they do to support victims and survivors, both in the UK and overseas, with the aim of breaking the taboo around the subject. HRH recently became Patron of the UK charity, SafeLives and has also visited Refuge and Women’s Aid centres in the UK.
Towards the start of lockdown, domestic abuse helplines saw a significant surge in calls, and Her Royal Highness shared a message of support for victims, with links to useful helplines and practical advice.
Some recent examples of Her Royal Highnesses work include:
In March 2022, The Duchess met residents and joined a reception for staff, volunteers, and partners at a Women’s Aid centre in Northern Ireland.
In February 2022, during Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence Awareness Week, The Duchess of Cornwall visited Paddington Haven, a Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) in West London, before visiting the Thames Vallery Partnership offices in Aylesbury to hear about the new technology being used to support those affected by domestic abuse.
In January 2022 The Duchess hosted a reception at Clarence House to mark 50 years of Refuge and the movement to end domestic abuse. The Duchess of Cornwall met Refuge Ambassadors, Trustees and Survivors of domestic abuse, and learnt how abuse has changed over Refuge’s 50-year history.
In March 2021 The Duchess met with Darren O’Brien at Victoria Station to discuss the Rail to Refuge scheme. The initiative, coordinated by Rail Delivery Group and Women’s Aid, helps people to escape domestic abuse and reach a safe refuge quickly and free of charge.
In September 2021, The Duchess of Cornwall became Patron of Mirabel Centre in Nigeria. Founded in July 2013 by Itoro Eze-Anaba, the Mirabel Centre is Nigeria’s first Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC), providing succour and a safe place to survivors of rape and sexual assault.
ENGAGEMENT 21
Their Royal Highnesses will visit Prince of Wales Heritage Centre in Yellowknife.
Their Royal Highnesses will arrive separately.
His Royal Highness will be greeted by Mr. Kyle Thomas, owner of Bush Order Provisions. The Prince will then meet with various local food producers outside the building to discuss
environmental challenges encountered in the food production sector in Northern Canada, and highlight challenges small business owners have encountered during the COVID-19 pandemic.
En route to the main entrance of the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre, His Royal Highness will be greeted by The Honourable Mr. R.J. Simpson, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Government of the Northwest Territories and Dr. Sarah Carr-Locke, Director of The Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre.
His Royal Highness will be introduced to Ms. Robin Weber, who will open the same door to The Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre that she opened for His Royal Highness in 1979, during his last visit to the Centre. She was five years old at that time.
The Prince will view a display of archival images from the opening in 1979 and learn about how the Heritage Centre has evolved throughout the decades since His Royal Highness’s last visit.
His Royal Highness will then proceed to the Treaty 11 exhibition to discuss the importance of Treaty 11 (which was signed in 1921) in the history of the Northwest Territories with Dr. John B. Zoe, the curator of the exhibition and a Senior Advisor for the Tlicho Government.
His Royal Highness, accompanied by the of Minister of Education, Culture, and Employment for the Government of the Northwest Territories, The Honourable R.J. Simpson, will then enter the Auditorium of The Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre. They will be greeted by Indigenous Games Athletes Ms. Veronica Macdonald and Mr. John Williams, both Traditional Games Instructors with the Aboriginal Sports Circle. Ms. McLeod will introduce His Royal Highness to the Aboriginal Sport Circle and provide historical background about the importance of Indigenous Games to Indigenous Communities. Ms. McLeod will also facilitate the demonstrations from Indigenous athletes from Inuvik, Tuktoyaktuk, and Yellowknife, which will be ongoing during this discussion.
Meanwhile, The Duchess of Cornwall will arrive and proceed to the Discovery Gallery, where she will be greeted by local Indigenous artisans and view handmade Indigenous crafts common in Northern Communities and learn about the crafting process and history of Indigenous crafts.
The Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre
The Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre, opened by His Royal Highness in 1979. It is the Government of the Northwest Territories’ Museum and archives. The Centre acquires and manages objects and archival materials that represent the cultures and history of the Northwest Territories (NWT), plays a primary role in documenting and providing information about the cultures and history of the NWT, and provides professional museum, archives and cultural resource management services to partner organizations.
In addition to its exhibits, collections and conservation programs, the PWNHC houses the NWT Archives, provides technical, logistic and financial support to individuals and organizations involved in cultural activities and the arts, and authorizes archaeological studies in the NWT.
Treaty 11
Treaty 11 is considered a foundational piece of both the nation-to-nation treaty-making process that led to the signing of modern treaties in the Territory, but also of the social and political fabric of the Northwest Territories.
It was signed in 1921 in several communities in the Northwest Territories.
Treaty 11 is considered a foundational piece of both the nation-to-nation treaty-making process that led to the signing of modern treaties in the NWT, but also of the social and political fabric of the Northwest Territories.
The Tłı̨chǫ are a self-governing nation and are committed to the nation-to-nation and government-to-government relationships that have been established and facilitated by the treaty-making process.
Dr. Zoe often shares the Tłı̨chǫ perspective of how their origin stories are written in the landscape, there is a very strong connection to the land that is integral to their existence. He often refers to a common Tłı̨chǫ saying “Strong like two people” – this embodies the importance of maintaining strength in traditional Tłı̨chǫ ways and the connection to the land, while also strengthening the treaty relationship and self-governing nature of their nation in the modern economy.
The Aboriginal Sports Circle of the Northwest Territories (ASCNWT)
The ASCNWT empowers and builds capacity within communities, promotes, and supports culturally relevant programming, and develops athletes and coaches in a level of involvement they find meaningful. Established in 1999, ASCNWT was created through a national consensus-building process in response to the need for more accessible and equitable sport and recreation opportunities for Aboriginal peoples across the Northwest Territories.
Traditional games likely to be demonstrated include:
- One-Foot-High Kick: in this competition the competitor stands on one foot, jumps in the air and hits a ball or piece of seal such as a ringed seal, which is suspended from a stand and then lands on the same foot.
- Two-Foot-High Kick: in this competition, athletes must jump using two feet, touch a hanging target with both feet, and land on both feet, maintaining balance. The event is often considered the most demanding Arctic sport.
- Alaskan-High Kick: athletes must balance on one foot while holding the other, kick a target straight above with the balancing foot to reach a target, then land on the balancing and kicking foot.
ENGAGEMENT 22
Their Royal Highnesses will attend a Platinum Jubilee Ceremony at Ceremonial Circle.
Following the events inside the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre, His Royal Highness, accompanied by The Honourable Caroline Cochrane, Premier of the Northwest Territories, and Her Royal Highness, accompanied by Ms. Rebecca Alty, Mayor of Yellowknife will proceed along the Flag Causeway towards The Ceremonial Circle.
Upon arrival at the Ceremonial Circle, two Red Serge members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Chief Superintendent of the RCMP in the Northwest Territories, Chief Superintendent Jamie Zettler, will raise the Canadian Jubilee Flag.
Premier Cochrane will then share short remarks, thanking Their Royal Highnesses for visiting the Northwest Territories and afterwards, invite His Royal Highness to say a few remarks.
His Royal Highness, accompanied by The Honourable Margaret Thom, Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, and Her Royal Highness, accompanied by Brigadier General Pascal Godbout, Commanding Officer of the RCMP Northwest Territories, will then proceed to the site of the Jubilee Garden where His Royal Highness will unveil a Jubilee Plaque.
Members of the Northwest Territories Pipe Band will be performing as Their Royal Highnesses depart.
Ceremonial Circle and Flag Causeway
The Ceremonial Circle was officially opened on March 31,1999 and was the site of the Northwest Territories’ celebrations to mark the creation of two new territories, Nunavut and a new NWT, in Canada’s North. Located behind City Hall on the walkway leading to the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre and the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories, the Ceremonial Circle is an area that celebrates the Northwest Territories, its people and many cultures. The Circle is a gathering place for people and can be used by any group wanting to celebrate special events. The flags of the 33 communities in the NWT line the causeway crossing the end of Frame Lake leading from the Ceremonial Circle to the Heritage Centre and Legislative Assembly. Each flagpole features a plaque that shows the community’s name in the Aboriginal language of the area and the official name.
Jubilee Garden
The Office of the Commissioner has spearheaded the creation of a commemorative garden in honour of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. The plants and colours of the garden have been selected to reflect the deep relationship between the Crown and Indigenous people and Canada’s ongoing national efforts at reconciliation. The plants will include sage and sweetgrass, Indigenous perennial Norther plans which are considered in Indigenous cultures to be sacred and to have healing effects. The balance of the flowerbed will be filled with bedding plants with predominately orange flowers. The use of orange flowers is in recognition of the “Every Child Matters” movement and is recognized as a symbol of reconciliation.
Traditional Métis Music
The roots of Métis music run deep in Canada and reflect a heritage defined by two poles: the French and Indigenous Peoples. Historically, the Metis are a people born of the many alliances and marriages between French-Canadian trappers and Indigenous traders that defined the fur trade. Métis culture blends elements from both traditions but is wholly different from both. This syncretic nature of Metis culture is readily apparent in Metis music and dance.
Northwest Territories Pipe Band
The band is a Grade Four recreational pipe and drum band which makes its home in the city of Yellowknife. The NWT Pipe Band has the distinction of being Canada’s most northerly highland pipe band at 62° 27 North latitude-edging out the Midnight Sun Pipe Band from Whitehorse, Yukon. The band plays at numerous community events throughout the year, such as Remembrance Day services, Yellowknife’s Canada Day Parade and spring “Caribou Carnival”. The band also plays at various fundraising, such as the NWT Council for Disabled Persons’ Celebrity Auction and sporting events, including curling bonspiels and the biannual Arctic Winter Games.
DEPARTURE
Their Royal Highnesses will be honoured with a Departure Guard before they depart for the UK.
