One of the activities taking place was outdoor ice skating, which was enjoyed by many despite the mildly cold weather. A portion of the lake was cleared off specifically for the purpose of skating. A small number of children were able to enjoy the beautiful weather as snow lightly fell around them in the calm, cool air. After skating, participants could warm up by the bonfire set near Santa’s Workshop, which lasted from 3 p.m. until 9 p.m.
Santa’s Workshop was created by Doreen Wall out of the Saik’uz Park storage area. Numerous people participated in cookie and pine cone decorating, as well as bird feeder making. Every effort was made to ensure the apparent authenticity of the set up. Certainly the children believed as they entered the building that they were indeed in Santa’s Workshop.
The Trapper’s Cabin, created by Craig Hooper, featured Sam Quaw singing and playing his guitar for a small audience. The 40’s Cabin included homemade fruitcake, baked by Ruth Hooper and given out to people in attendance.
The Potlatch House showcased a good deal of entertainment. Approximately 200 people attended performances by Heather and Dylan Ferris, The Louie Family Singers, Lisa Striegler and Valerie Pagdin. Priscilla Mueller baked a feast of goodies for everyone to enjoy inside the Potlatch House.
The evening of Sunday December 4th played host to the 10th Anniversary Christmas concert featuring the Eclectic Circus Singers. An audience of 75 people attended the event held at the beautifully decorated Potlatch House, and all were very entertained by the Eclectic Circus Singers’ well-known and loved renditions of traditional Christmas Carols. Rosa McIntosh joined members Pam Gregg, Thea Doyle, Marge Fryatt and Gilda Erasmus for some traditional drumming, which was especially powerful during their rendition of Tom Jackson’s “The Huron Christmas Song.”
George LaBrash told a Christmas story that Mary John had shared with Smoke Signals in 1995. David Gregg also read a story on a multicultural Christmas about a turkey dinner being prepared, from Stuart McLean.
Acknowledgements
There was an immeasurable amount of time and effort that went into the preparation for the Legacy of Lights. In addition to the immense preparation taken on by a number of selfless volunteers, there were also numerous entertainers, some who traveled thousands of miles, who sang and played instruments and told stories during the event. A number of individual volunteers also provided aid where it was needed. As a result of all the work and dedication put into the project, the entire weekend event was a phenomenal success!
The Stoney Creek Elder’s Society and the Mary John Tribute Committee initiated the preparation for and development of the Legacy of Lights event. The Good Neighbours Committee, a part of the Diversity Project coordinated by CNC-Nechako, eagerly accepted the opportunity to help organize the event, and for this they cannot be thanked enough. Thanks also go out to the Literacy Committee in Vanderhoof, the District of Vanderhoof, Canfor Plateau Division, TinToh Forest Products, Saik’uz First Nation and L & M Lumber, without whose help and contributions this weekend would never have been possible.
Volunteer & Contact Information
If you would like to volunteer for Legacy of Lights 2006, please contact the Band office, 567-9293 or Charlyne Smilinski, smilinski@cnc.bc.ca, at College of New Caledonia-Nechako.
