National Aboriginal Day isn't just about celebrating the uniqueness of our First Nations people, but also about looking within ourselves to find the common ground that Canadians share regardless of the many ancestral backgrounds we have.
Becky Wock, the adult program co-ordinator at the Estevan Public Library, is planning a film session that will give an opportunity to discuss the importance of our diversity and its impact on Canadian people.
The film being shown is a National Film Board documentary titled Club Native, which explores the way bloodlines and culture play in determining identity for First Nations people in Canada.
"By trade I'm a social studies teacher," said Wock. "I think that culture is important, especially (the culture) where we live is very important. Understanding our country and appreciating our country is important."
She said learning about the differences of people across the country and each province's own characteristics can bring a smaller sense of community. She noted just as Canadian immigrants have completely different histories, so do the country's Aboriginals, as those in British Columbia are very different from those in Saskatchewan.
"We all get kind of stuck in our little world, so being exposed to something different is good," Wock said. "I was just trying to think of a different way to recognize the event and also to get people here, to the library."
Wock visited Aboriginal Affairs online to see what kind of events were being done across Canada and decided to show a film. After watching Club Native, she thought it was pretty interesting and felt it may be something that offers some reflection on the part of the viewer.
"I felt it's appropriate, not just for Aboriginal people, but for everyone in Canada who, not (really) struggles with their identity, but everyone comes from somewhere else. There is a sense of, 'how Canadisn are all of us?' which is what the film looks at. Who's more Canadian? or Who's more Native? Those are the questions that are posed, so I thought that is applies not just to Aboriginal Day but everyone."
Showing a film that asks those questions is a good way to show that Aboriginal Day is a special day for a group of people in Canada, while taking into consideration that we're all still Canadians, Wock said.
"We all still have the same daily struggles. We're still human, and we still have the same issues. That's what I thought was a nice message in the movie."
Aboriginal Day is the beginning of an 11-day Celebrate Canada initiative, culminating on July 1 for Canada Day.
The film follows life on a reserve in Quebec and their struggles in how they identify with being Canadian.
"It's a glimpse into their life, but it also can make people aware of their own identity, appreciating our differences and our similarities."
Wock said it's important for everyone to take a closer look at this unique group of people in Canada.
"Just become a little more familiar with what they go through with their lives and realize there are some similarities. This is an opportunity to learn more about what this group of people has to offer and learn about the vast differences amongst Aboriginal people."
The library will be showing the film on June 21 at 6 p.m.
