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National Aboriginal Day celebrated in Saskatoon

Jun 21, 2016 | 3:13 PM

Saskatoon marked National Aboriginal Day in the city Tuesday.

A large crowd gathered at Victoria Park for a celebration hosted by the Saskatoon Indian and Metis Friendship Centre. 

The all-day event featured a Grand Entry, speeches by dignitaries, a soup and bannock lunch followed by music and dance.

This year’s theme focused on Residential School survivors. 

The centre said through the annual event, they hope to provide cultural education and awareness about the diversity and uniqueness of the Aboriginal people in Saskatoon. 

Events were held acorss the country; Prime Minister Justin Trudeau attended a sunrise ritual on the shore of the Ottawa River wearing moccasins and a buckskin jacket that his office said was owned by his father, the late Pierre Elliott Trudeau.

As the sun rose beyond a bridge linking Quebec and Ontario, Justin Trudeau was bathed with a ceremonial smoke as part of a smudging ceremony before paddling beneath the Parliament buildings in a 10-metre cargo canoe.

The federal government began observing National Aboriginal Day on June 21 two decades ago.

 -With files from the Canadian Press

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