Central Albertans have come together to celebrate Indigenous culture at the annual Community Spring Feast for 16 years.
This year's edition of the event, which is presented by the Safe Harbour Society, was held at Fort Normandeau on Saturday, with an expected 200-plus people in attendance.
"This is about unity," said Indigenous elder Theresa "Corky" Larsen-Jonasson, head woman for the Community Spring Feast.
"Each feast is about praying for our community, praying for our leadership, praying for our old people, praying for our kids. It's a team effort. ... As a community, we eat together or we starve together, and this is a time of plenty. It's our new year – this is when we would say happy new year, not December 31. It's time to gather strength for the big Indigenous ceremonies, the sun dance and the sacred lodges."
This year's event was particularly special because it featured a sacred hoop with more than 100 eagle feathers, Larsen-Jonasson noted.
"Elders from all over North America ... have prayed with each feather and sent it in. They carry one of four teachings: healing, unity, forgiveness and hope. That's what we really want for our community, that's what each feast does every year," she said.
"Everybody brings food. Sometimes people will bring the favourite dish of someone who has passed away, just to remember them. ... As head woman for the feast one of my responsibilities is to make sure there's enough food. We want people to have lots of food and be able to take some home."
The feast has experienced significant growth over the past 16, Larsen-Jonasson said, noting 40-50 people attended the first event.
"I'm proud of my community and I love my community," she said.
"There were so many agencies and businesses in town that had no idea about Indigenous teachings or the feast ceremony. Now they say, 'We've written it into our budget. We can be there and this is what we're bringing.' We don't even have to ask them. That's where you see truth and reconciliation. That's it in action."
It's important to host events that share Indigenous culture because the effects of residential schools continue to linger to this day, Larsen-Jonasson added.
"They took away spirituality, they took away children, they took away faith. It all happened very quickly and we're still reeling from it. It's still fairly fresh and might take a little more time and we need to understand why it might take more time," she said.
During the setup for the Community Spring Feast, Larsen-Jonasson said she heard many people speaking in Indigenous languages.
"That's what's blown me away these past couple days. A lot of them are young too and they're opening their prayer and sharing with their language. It's very powerful and hopeful."