ABORIGINAL WINTER CAMP @ Silver Skate  February 20th and 21st, 2010 - Hawrelak Park Sat & Sun 10am-9pm
Hawrelak Park
Sat Feb. 20th and Sun Feb. 21, 10am-9pm
10 am – 12 pm Visiting & Tea
12 – 9 pm Cultural Programming
Tansi Hello Bonjour Tungasugitsi
Welcome to Winter Camp! Take part in a unique winter experience at the Aboriginal Winter Camp in Hawrelak Park. You’ll find a warm welcome as you visit the tipis, tents, and tupiq where stories, culture, and fun are all part of traditional winter spirit.
Around the central fire, you will find five shelters - the Elders Visiting Tipi, the Performance Tipi, an Inuit Tupic, the Heritage & Craft Tipi, and the Story-Telling Tipi.
We share the tea and the warmth of the fire, our stories, our culture and our friendship. Winter Camp Schedule
10 – 12 noon - Tea and Visiting
April Houle
Jordan Reves
Leo Letendre
Angela Gladue
Elder’s Tipi
Elaine Brass and Tony Calihoo - 12 to 3 pm
Leonard Saddleback and Betty Lafferty - 3 to 6 pm
Reuben Quinn and Hazel Decorby - 6 to 9 pm
Brenda St.Germain-Gladue - throughout the day
Mini Freeman - 12:30 to 3:30 pm
Dance Tipi
Leo Letendre – traditional Dancer - 10 to 4:30
Angela Gladue – B-Girl - 4:30 to 9 pm
Heritage Tipi
MJ Moses - cultural arts and heritage
Drum Tipi
Sherryl Sewepagaham - hand drum/singing workshops
Walter Quinn – native hand games
Tupic
Goota Desmarais – Inuit culture and arts
The heritage artists at Winter Camp are supported by Winter Light and Silver Skate.
What to Expect –
Some experiences are formal – performances of songs, drums, dance, and story telling - and some are informal - visiting, learning and talking about the culture. Follow the example of our hosts and artists, and when in doubt about what is expected, feel free to ask.
The Entrance –
Enter as if you were coming to visit someone – say hello, and see what’s happening. Enjoy the hospitality and the shelter.
Sharing Space –
In winter camping, warmth is critical. Tipis and tupiqs are smaller spaces than most contemporary design, yet when we cooperate, there is a place for everyone in the safety of the shelter. So squeeze in, don’t block the entrance – and get comfortable! Always offer elders a seat. Children sit on the floor.
The fire tender or tipi hosts will help manage capacity for each, which is between 15 – 30.
The Fire –
The fires are kept by festival people, and you are invited to step up and enjoy their heat. Please keep an eye on kids near the stoves. In some cases, a fire may have smudge or medicine smoke, or a ceremonial importance. Please ask before you put anything in the fire.
Elders -
An Elder is someone with experience and wisdom, and their knowledge may take any form – traditional ways, languages, nature study, story telling, life skills, healing, psychology, politics, building, art or medicine – the knowledge held by Elders is multi-dimensional and deep.
On behalf of festival participants, Winter Light will observes protocol with the Elders, meaning we offer tobacco or gifts as symbol of respect, and formally request they share their time and knowledge during the festival. We do this, as well as a financial honorarium, on behalf of all festival participants so you may interact with the Elders knowing this important protocol has been observed. Produced by the Edmonton Arts Council |
Winter 2010 Events 
