Official Aboriginal Day 2016

Sneaky Wilimina took this pix of I & two FB friends at City Hall. :)

Woke up bright and early on Tuesday morning then looked out my window and notice the tall berry trees in front of the KMHC building need a good trimming. Feeling energetic I decided to trim them myself if I had to wait for UNH’s to do it hell would freeze over. Aboriginal day celebrations at Hamilton City Hall were scheduled for 11.30 am and I soon got ready. When I arrived speeches by local dignitaries were in progress so I quietly joined the crowd in the back. NDP leader Andrea Horwath was also on the podium when she was done her speech she walked by and said hello to my friend Wilamina who was standing next to me. I just nod and smiled when Andrea looked my way. I hope the Feds don’t come after me for saying this. My Gosh, I was smitten! In person the NDP leader is a lovely looking woman. :)

Native speakers were next on the podium unfortunately the audience couldn’t hear them the microphone was too far away. Later Native dancers performed for the crowd what caught my eye was the little native boy all dressed up ready to dance. I wanted to take a picture but according to native custom capturing pictures is forbidden during the dance which I honored. Of course with modern cell phones and cameras it’s hard to enforce such a custom. What I like about the event I get the chance to say hello to friends and acquaintances in the native community. We don’t always run into each other during our everyday lives so it was nice to catch up.

The former UNH’s director Janis Lewis-Deeley and I exchanged greetings. I was especially happy to sit and chat with former UNH’s employee Denise M. She was once in charge of programs at KMHC. I brought up the topic of UNH’s and was told the current UNH’s Acting Director was verbally abusive to reception trainees, soon after the school severed all ties with UNH’s. Way To Go Acting Director. :P I also found out Sacajawea Non-Profit Housing moved out on their own when Urban Native Homes Inc. was forced to move out from the Albert St location. Sacajawea Non-Profit Housing relocated to another premises and according the Denise M. they are doing well.

Last year H.O.W. Lynda and Christine offered KMHC tenants transportation to the City Hall event. This year nothing…zippo! UNH’s decided to close up the office. Poor tenant Miss Judy she needed a lift and called a taxi due to her disability. :(

A free light lunch was provided by local aboriginal organizations, hot dogs, chips, bottled water and cake. For medical reasons I passed on the cake. I have to go easy on the sweets.

Speaking of aboriginal organizations I have to publicly thank the Hamilton Native Women’s Centre for the much needed food box program offered to Natives on a monthly basis. I can remember three or four years ago they were thinking of canceling the program. I wrote a blog and e-mailed the NWC director pleading to continue the program. Thankfully she listened to my words and somehow found the funds to keep the food box program going. :)