Heritage House Spring Festival

Rosanne Fortier News Correspondent

Heritage House believes in being inclusive similar to how the indigenous culture values unity, brotherhood, and respect for everyone.

Hence, Heritage House (Points West Living Vegreville Seniors) Spring Festival was a free event which over 156 people from all ages attended.

This festival began with a BBQ fundraiser for The Saddle Lake Eagle Healing Lodge.

After this, there was a Pow-wow which featured native dancers and drummers from The Youth Dance Troop which is out of Saddle Lake and were Organizer and drummer, Darcy McGilvery, Draydon Cardinal- McGilvery, Facilitator drummer, Aaron McGilvery, drummers-Ethan Pasquayak, Laren McGilvery, Dancers from Team Boy Traditional-Dakota Raine, Team Girl Jiggle, Shalayna McGilvery, and dancers- John Sauve, Sunita Tootoosis.

Darcy McGilvery welcomed everyone while he explained the stories and symbolization of the dance costumes, dances, and drumming, as well as, how some of these were used in healing ceremonies.

The beauty and spirituality of the drumming was indescribable with its expression and radiance.

At the closing, everyone who was able to was requested to join in a circle dance.

All the dancers and drummers shook hands with, met, and spoke to everyone at the end of their performances.

Later, people of all ages participated in the free games and activities where they won delicious prizes of cotton candy and chocolate bars.

Don and Pat Priggs who came from Edmonton to attend the event and tour Heritage Heights said they thought the performance was great because of the way the dancers and drummers were so really to share their culture. “I think it is wonderful for us to see and be able to appreciate their gifts. It was nice because this is a small setting. Then their indigenous culture is so colorful.

There was also a healing ceremony because God knows we all need that. They were so friendly and wanted to speak to all of us.

Also, Don and Pat Priggs both went on a tour of Heritage Heights and they said they really liked the independent living facility.