The Yellowknives Dene First Nation hosted the city鈥檚 only National Indigenous Peoples Day festivities this year under a warm, sunny sky at the Wiilideh traditional site on the Yellowknife River.

Chief Ed Sangris (Dettah) offered welcoming words that led into a prayer drumming and a sacred fire feeding ceremony to open the day鈥檚 celebrations.

Sangris touched on the importance of the day to renew oneself spiritually and to one another much like the the day marks the annual renewal of all life under the Creator.

鈥漌e have to renew ourselves,鈥� he said. 鈥淭his is the time of renewal for everything else on Earth. The Creator put everything on this earth and he renews it once a year. We Dene people renew our spirituality.鈥�

Chief Ernest Betsina welcomed the crowd following the fire-feeding ceremony and thanked all those that participated in the sacred event.

鈥淲herever you鈥檙e from and whatever community you鈥檙e from or nationality, I want to welcome you, Betsina said. 鈥淭his is our day - Aboriginal Day.

鈥淲hatever reason you put your tobacco in, I鈥檓 sure the Creator, is listening right now.鈥�

Greetings were also offered by William Greenland and Bobby Drygeese. who both touched on the importance of the day for area Indigenous people.

Throughout the grounds the Indigenous peoples of Chief Drygeese Territory hosted sites, smells, sounds and tastes of all sorts rooted in traditional culture.

Activities were scheduled to stretch well into Monday evening.

A full report will be provided in Wednesday鈥檚 Yellowknifer.