COLD LAKE - On July 25, the Cold Lake Museums, in collaboration with the Cold Lake Native Friendship Centre, hosted a vibrant Cultural Days event that highlighted both Indigenous and military heritage.
The event, marking the Day of Culture according to the Mayan calendar, brought together community members for a day of celebration and sharing.
“Today is the Day of Knot, it's called, under the Mayan calendar. The Day of Culture. The Mayan calendar followed 13 moons and 28 days,” said Agnes Gendron, Executive Director of the Cold Lake Native Friendship Centre. “And the end of the year is July 24. If you add 28 days times 13, you'll get 264 days in a year. So, the 25th happened to be the day of culture. That was one day that was set aside for culture.”
Gendron also shared the event’s deeper message – which is one of peace.
“Wherever there's culture, there's peace. Wherever there's peace, there's culture.”
She later added, “The more people get along, the better it is.”
The day featured a barbecue and activities such as a colouring contest and temporary tattoos, along with traditional Indigenous food.
“This is the first time it's on Thursday. That's our Soup and Bannock Day. And I thought, why not [include it]?” said Gendron.
Although, due to the fire ban, traditional bannock on a stick could not be made at the event.
The event welcomed a variety of cultural expressions.
“Anybody can bring their own art. If they like music, they can play music. If they like drawing or whatever, they can show off their drawing. If they like dancing, they can dance and do all kinds of cultural stuff. So, it doesn't have to be Indigenous, they can just know how to just bring their own,” Gendron said.
Looking forward, Gendron affirmed, “On July 25, every year, we're going to do this.”
