THUNDER BAY — Fort William Historical Park is hosting Anishinaabe Keeshigun this weekend, an event that's been taking place for more than 40 years.
Anishinaabe Keeshigun will take place on both Saturday and Sunday, kicking off at 10 a.m. each day and continuing until 5 p.m.
Park general manager Patrick Morash said the event is all about the celebration of First Nations culture and heritage.
"This culture and heritage is important for a whole range of reasons," Morash said. "Historically, with respect to the fur trade, which was the reason that Fort William was here, the fur trade couldn't have happened as we know it without the active engagement and involvement of [the] area Indigenous cultures."
There will be lots of activities throughout the weekend, including a dramatization of hunters arriving to the historical park.
"By having an actual arrival of a canoe, people are going to see what that might have looked like at that time, and they'll get a sense of how that would have felt at the time of the rendezvous here at Fort William," Morash said.
There will be special performances from legendary Canadian hoop dancer from Alberta, James Jones (@notoriouscree), who will be performing three times over the course of the weekend.
Morash recognizes that Indigenous culture is very integral to what happens at the park daily.
"We believe that having at least this weekend as a way to focus and celebrate that culture is really important."
The event is free to attend all weekend and will have food and craft vendors, specific pet-friendly spaces, as well as a powwow highlighting regional dancers and drum groups.
