Friendship Centre plans BBQ for National Indigenous Peoples Day in Bonnyville

The Bonnyville Native Friendship Centre will be hosting a free barbecue to celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 22nd.

The event will be hosted at the parking lot beside their building on Main Street at noon with free hamburgers followed by dancers and traditional drummers at 1:00pm.

Though the celebration will be far more muted than in years past, it was important to the Centre to have some kind of event.

“We were trying to think of what we could do while still being safe,” said executive director Lauri Fitzpatrick.

“We’re going to have fences, sanitation stations, our workers and volunteers are going to be wearing masks, and we’ll have a mask for anyone that wants one.”

There will also be a 100 person limit for the event.

Fitzpatrick doesn’t predict the event will be much longer than a few hours, but still hopes that residents will come around to enjoy some free food and warm weather.

National Indigenous Peoples Day is celebrated June 21.

National Indigenous History Month runs through June, and celebrates the history, cultures, and heritage of Canada’s diverse Indigenous peoples.

The Cold Lake Friendship Centre is not hosting an event this year due to COVID-19.