Moose Factory holds a celebration more than 350 years in the making
The first season of the Cree year is Sikwan or 'early spring' and an opening ceremony marking the occasion in Moose Factory, Ont. earlier this month launched a year-long celebration.
It's called: 'More than 350 years in the making'.
People are celebrating that they are still here and that they still have their language and culture.
“Even though we through you know everything that that the rest of Canada went through with regards to Residential Schools and the 60s Scoop and all the fall out from that,” said Bernice Kapashesit, co-chair of the More Than 350 Years Committee.
“We just wanted to celebrate us as our ancestors would want us to," said Bernice Kapashesit, co-chair of the More Than 350 Committee.
- Download our app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
Kapashesit said their parents hosted a similar event in 1973 for the 300th anniversary of Moose Factory – established as 'Moose Fort' in 1673.
Moose Factory is Canada's oldest continuous hub of Indigenous-European relations and a national historic site.
“The youth will learn more about their history and be proud of it,” said Kapashesit.
“I think the youth need some help in that as to who they are, where they come from, where do they belong."
More activities and gatherings will be planned throughout the year. Summer or Nipin will see a Creefest and a canoe brigade, followed by a Knowledge Keepers Conference in the fall.
Everyone is invited to attend any of the celebrations that will feature music, entertainment and feasts.
For more information on upcoming events that are part of the ‘More than 350 years in the making’ celebration, visit the Moose Cree First Nation and Moose River Heritage and Hospitality Association Facebook pages.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'They needed people inside Air Canada:' Police announce arrests in Pearson gold heist
Police say one former and one current employee of Air Canada are among the nine suspects that are facing charges in connection with the gold heist at Pearson International Airport last year.
House admonishes ArriveCan contractor in rare parliamentary show of power
MPs enacted an extraordinary, rarely used parliamentary power on Wednesday, summonsing an ArriveCan contractor to appear before the House of Commons where he was admonished publicly and forced to provide answers to the questions MPs said he'd previously evaded.
Trump lawyers say Stormy Daniels refused subpoena outside a Brooklyn bar, papers left 'at her feet'
Donald Trump's legal team says it tried serving Stormy Daniels a subpoena as she arrived for an event at a bar in Brooklyn last month, but the porn actor, who is expected to be a witness at the former president's criminal trial, refused to take it and walked away.
Why drivers in Eastern Canada could see big gas price spikes, and other Canadians won't
Drivers in Eastern Canada face a big increase in gas prices because of various factors, especially the higher cost of the summer blend, industry analysts say.
'A living nightmare': Winnipeg woman sentenced following campaign of harassment against man after online date
A Winnipeg woman was sentenced to house arrest after a single date with a man she met online culminated in her harassing him for years, and spurred false allegations which resulted in the innocent man being arrested three times.
Customers disappointed after email listing $60K Tim Hortons prize sent in error
Several Tim Horton’s customers are feeling great disappointment after being told by the company that an email stating they won a boat worth nearly $60,000 was sent in error.
Woman who pressured boyfriend to kill his ex in 2000s granted absences from prison
A woman who pressured her boyfriend into killing his teenage ex more than a decade ago will be allowed to leave prison for weeks at a time.
Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter banned from NBA
Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter has been handed a lifetime ban from The National Basketball Association (NBA) following an investigation which found he disclosed confidential information to sports bettors, the league says.
Attempt to have murder charge quashed against alleged serial killer dismissed by judge
A motion filed by the man accused of killing four Indigenous women in Winnipeg to have one of those murder charges quashed has been dismissed by the judge – weeks before the start of his trial.