Slave Lake celebrates Indigenous Peoples Day

July 1, 2026 · by Admin2017 · 0

Elder Dave Matilpi wears a traditional wolf headdress and leads a line of dancers at the National Indigenous Peoples Day celebration in Schurter Park on June 19. The performers lined up from eldest to youngest to honour their ancestors.

Hundreds of people gathered in Schurter Park on Friday, June 19, for drumming, dancing, and a community feast to celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day.

Organized by the Slave Lake Native Friendship Centre, the afternoon event featured a mini powwow and traditional drumming. Participants travelled from across the region, including dancers and drummers from Driftpile and Edmonton, to share and celebrate their culture.

**Drummers play in the foreground as Matilpi and others perform for a crowd of community members joined by local RCMP officers.**

Elder Dave Matilpi drove three hours from the Peace River area to perform the opening prayer. Wearing his traditional wolf headdress, he also joined in the dancing. For Matilpi, a residential school survivor originally from Alert Bay, B.C., participating in these gatherings is an important part of his lifelong healing journey.

“I get out of my vehicle, I’m sore, I’m stiff, but once the drums start, there’s no pain, there’s no hurt. It’s just amazing,” Matilpi says.

During his opening speech, Matilpi thanked the Creator for the traditional medicines provided by Mother Earth and the large circle of friends and family in attendance.

“We thank you, Creator, for the visiting ancestors who are here,” Matilpi says.

**Volunteers prepare the community feast of burgers and hotdogs. From left: Ian Cameron, Benice Yellowknee, Annette Courtorielle, and Nicole Poitras.**

Putting on an event of this scale takes months of preparation. Ian Cameron, an area supervisor with Quest Logistics and a Friendship Centre board member, says the annual celebration keeps growing.

“It is great to get the culture out there and give everybody a chance to come together,” Cameron says. “It allows everyone to get involved with the community, give back, and showcase traditional values.”

Cameron estimates about 500 people visited the park over the course of the day. Local businesses stepped up to help, with groups like Travelling Timbers donating the stage.

**Performers from across the region gather around to share traditional songs.**

The celebration also gave local law enforcement a chance to connect with residents in a relaxed setting. Sgt. Ted Shillaker from the Slave Lake RCMP attended with his team.

“The Indigenous community is a vital part of Slave Lake,” Shillaker says. “When they are involved in the community, so are we. Events like this are all about building and maintaining those positive relationships.”

**A dancer in bright regalia pushes a baby stroller, sharing the culture with the newest generation.**

To keep these cultural events and local support programs running, the Friendship Centre relies heavily on people giving their time. Benice Yellowknee, a community helper coordinator working in partnership with the centre, encourages people to get involved.

“We are always looking for volunteers, so please come down and see us at the Friendship Centre located at 416 6 Ave NE, Slave Lake,” Yellowknee says.