Cultural gathering held in Kindersley

By Joan Janzen

A cultural gathering took place Saturday, March 8th, at the Elks Hall in Kindersley. Rivers West District for Sport, Culture and Recreation hosted the informative event. Bonnie Mills Midgley, the Community Development Coordinator, said it was the perfect opportunity for those attending to learn about cultural engagement.

Maxine Desjarlais from Lloydminster led a Jigging Workshop giving everyone the opportunity to learn and experience traditional dance. Photo by Joan Janzen

People began registering at 9:30 a.m. before the lineup of speakers began their presentations. A $20 registration fee included lunch, snacks and coffee.

The first half-hour presentation was given by Tomasin Playford, SaskCulture Outreach Consultant, who spoke about funding and resources for cultural initiatives. Peace Akintade-Oluwagbeye, a Poet Laureate for the Sask Writers Guild, was the next scheduled speaker. She read some of her poetry and explained what the Writers Guild is all about.

Hugh Henry, Past President of Sask History & Folklore Society shared some articles and slides showcasing provincial history. He explained what the society does to his listeners.

Alana Gunsch represented Notice Nature, a program encouraging outdoor exploration through interactive educational tools. She presented handbooks for people to use to identify animals, plants, and insects. She also introduced a bingo-type exercise in which people of all ages could participate.

Desirae Munro from the Wheatland Regional Library spoke about all the resources available at the library besides books, including community programs and digital resources. Miguel Fenrich from the Multicultural Council of Saskatchewan (MCOS) followed, discussing their initiatives and how people can get involved.

Rivers West staff shared details about last year’s barn quilt painting project funded by New Horizons for Seniors, which brought communities together through art. The process includes sanding and priming a 4x4 sheet of plywood, after which a pattern is chosen to be painted on the board. The projects can then be placed on a barn or fence so people can see these beautiful pieces of art. Information and samples were shared at Saturday’s event.

Maxine Desjarlais from Lloydminster led the liveliest event of the day. Her Jigging Workshop was a hands-on opportunity to learn and experience traditional dance.

The cultural gathering brought together a variety of cultural organizations, resources and funding opportunities, making it easier for our rural community to discover what’s available in Saskatchewan.