There was food, music, joy and dancing at Wednesday afternoon's Unity in Diversity BBQ in Battleford. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Celebrating Culture

Unity in Diversity BBQ brings community together

Mar 28, 2024 | 4:28 PM

Battlefords Agency Tribal Chiefs (BATC) held a special Unity in Diversity barbecue Thursday afternoon in the Town of Battleford, inviting people to come together to share in a meal and celebrate the various cultural backgrounds that comprise the local community.

“We had some incidents happening in the city over the last few weeks and months and we just thought it’s time to bring everybody together because we really are all in this together,” Director of Health Services for BATC, Leslie Ann Smith said.

“The Battlefords has been my home for 60 years and we need things to get better; we need it to be inclusive, we need to live together in harmony, and welcome new people and new cultures to our community. We need to accept people and welcome them with open arms.”

Giving out free barbeque hotdogs over the lunch hour at The Queens parking lot, across from Pennydale Junction and the Windsor Hotel, the event saw a strong turnout with people coming consistently throughout the noon hour, despite brisk temperatures of minus-12 with the windchill, to take part and show their support for the initiative.

“There’s everybody from all walks of life, different families here, different cultures, and that’s what we were hoping for today,” Smith said, looking around at all those who had gathered.

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“We’re really excited for the turnout, and this is not just a one-off. We plan on doing something monthly in regards to cultural diversity, and having other cultures lead that day, so we hope it becomes something that’s just ongoing.”

The lunch hour concluded with a round dance led by Adrian Weenonis and Preston Cook, of Red Pheasant Cree Nation.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

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