Local First Nations celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day

Chief Heidi Gravelle (right) and Councillor Kyle Shottanana leading the 25th Annual Border Cross Walk on foot at the Roosville Border Crossing on National Indigenous Peoples Day 2022. (Joshua Fischlin/The Free Press)

Chief Heidi Gravelle of Yaq̓it ʔa·knuqⱡi’it (Tobacco Plains Indian Band). (Joshua Fischlin/The Free Press)

Terry Luke of Yaq̓it ʔa·knuqⱡi’it (Tobacco Plains Indian Band) after raising a Kootenai Nation flag next to the Canada and US flags at the Roosville Border Crossing on June 21, 2022, National Indigenous Peoples Day. (Joshua Fischlin/The Free Press)

A procession of around 100 people, Indigenous and non-indigenous alike, walking through the Canada-US border at the Roosville Border Crossing on June 21, 2022, National Indigenous Peoples Day. (Joshua Fischlin/The Free Press)

A procession of around 100 people walking through the Canada-US border on National Indigenous Peoples Day 2022 was led by a group of drummers and singers. (Joshua Fischlin/The Free Press)

Border officers from both the Canada and US side of the dividing line were presented with pictures of Chief Paul David and his family following the 2022 Annual Border Cross Walk at the Roosville Border Crossing on June 21. David was chief when the border was established. (Joshua Fischlin/The Free Press)

National Indigenous Peoples Day was marked this year by the sounds of drums, singing, and a procession of people walking over the Canada-US border and back again at the Roosville border crossing.

About a hundred people, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous, gathered Tuesday (June 21) morning at the crossing for the 25th rendition of the Annual Border Cross Walk.

The march was headed up by drummers and singers, with Chief Heidi Gravelle and Councillor Kyle Shottanana of Yaq̓it ʔa·knuqⱡi’it (Tobacco Plains Indian Band), leading on foot.

Gravelle said the basis of the border walk is that there was no 49th parallel for her people.

“It cut our families in half,” she said.

“The walk across the border and back around is significant to express that it’s been a detriment to us.”

The walk took place on the traditional and unceded territory of the Ktunaxa/Ksanka Peoples, specifically Yaq̓it ʔa·knuqⱡi’it. Also present were relatives and friends from their sister governments, including: ʔakisq̓nuk (Columbia Lake First Nation), ʔaq̓am (St. Mary’s Indian Band), Yaqan nuʔkiy (Lower Kootenay Indian Band), Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of Montana, and the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho.

Gravelle said they don’t recognize the border in the sense that both sides are their home.

“(The event) brings our US Kootenay brothers and sisters up, and our Canadian, to bring us together and to celebrate who we are as Kootenay people,” she said.

“No matter of that border being there, it will never separate us, because of the significance of our land.”

The rest of the day was about ‘celebrating being Indigenous’, Gravelle said.

Activities were held at the Yaq̓it ʔa·knuqⱡi’it administration building, featuring food, a local jewelry artist, traditional games, a pow wow dance and round dance.

Gravelle said the activities were about bringing people together, showcasing who they are, and creating an atmosphere that is culturally signified as Indigenous, warm, and inviting.

“I just want to thank everybody for joining us today, and showing support, that they want to be here.”

@fishynewswatch
josh.fischlin@thefreepress.ca
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Indigenous Peoples Day Indigenous reconcilliation