The Teachings of the Seven Grandfathers include Wisdom, Humility, Courage, Love, Honesty, Truth and Respect.

By Shaun Penner

Teachings of the Seven Grandfathers

Seven Sacred Teachings event being held in Grande Prairie June 24-27

Jun 24, 2021 | 4:13 PM

The Native Counselling Services of Alberta, along with the Indigenous Peoples Day planning committee, has organized a community-wide event in honour of Indigenous Peoples Day over the next four days here in Grande Prairie.

The event Seven Sacred Teachings: A Journey to Reconciliation will have presenters at various locations around the city offering insight into the Teachings of the Seven Grandfathers: Wisdom, Humility, Courage, Love, Honesty, Truth and Respect.

Lindy Beauchamp-Chester, one of the organizers for the event, says typically they would host a one-day event on Indigenous People’s Day on June 21, but with the ongoing pandemic they wanted to get creative in how they could hold an event.

“Something that the community could attend, and be part of, without having those large numbers all in one place.”

With that, booths have been set up at locations across the city from June 24-26, which can be found on the poster below:

Supplied by the Native Counselling Services of Alberta

Beauchamp-Chester says they have also created “passports”, which can be picked up at any of the seven locations. Anyone who collects a stamp for their passport from all seven presenters can then be entered into a draw to win one of three prizes, with the top prize being $1,000.

That draw will occur on Sunday, June 27 with a wrap-up event in Muskoseepi Park, starting at 1 p.m.

Beauchamp-Chester says she hopes everyone in the community will come out and take part.

“We just want everyone to come out. We don’t want them to feel that this is an Indigenous-only event. This is about how Indigenous people embracing all cultures and we welcome everyone,” she said. “We want to engage and create community with us.”

With the recent discoveries at former residential schools serving as a strong awakening into the reality of Canada’s history with Indigenous peoples, Beauchamp-Chester says learning about Indigenous culture and so much more at events can provide a step towards reconciliation.

“We’re seeing Canada embrace Indigenous peoples and communities and recognizing that there is so much work that still needs to be done,” she said.

“It’s really important to know who we are. To recognize our inherent rights, but not only the inherent rights of Indigenous people, but how we contribute and how we care about the community.”

Indigenous Peoples Day events have been put on in Grande Prairie by the Native Counselling Services of Alberta for about the past 20 years.

Beauchamp-Chester says a lot of those events would not have been put on if it were not for their leader, Marge Mueller.

“She’s been doing this event for a very long time… she has done amazing stuff.”