A Dene woman, known as Everyone’s Grandmother, was honored in Prince Albert National Park through a traditional ceremony on Tuesday. The event included a sweat lodge ceremony, pipe ceremony, and feast following Cree and Dene burial customs, with participation from First Nations elders, community members, and Parks Canada representatives. This ceremony marked a milestone in ongoing discussions between local communities and the park to highlight Indigenous history and culture.
The woman’s remains, identified as belonging to a Dene woman in her late 20s who likely lived 300 to 500 years ago, were initially discovered in Saskatchewan’s Anglin Lake area in the 1990s. After consultation with First Nations elders and leaders through the Prince Albert Grand Council, the decision was made to reinter the remains in the national park. Allan Adam, a Dene elder from Fond du Lac Denesuline First Nation, conducted a pipe ceremony at the gravesite and emphasized the significance of recognizing Dene ties to the land.
Parks Canada’s Indigenous cultural liaison, Quinn Frank, highlighted the agency’s commitment to respecting Indigenous connections and rights through engagement with local communities. Efforts are underway to establish long-term processes for preserving cultural sites within the park, with decisions guided by input from elders and leaders of Indigenous communities. The park, established in 1927 on the traditional territories of various Indigenous groups, aims to continue building on its collaboration with Indigenous partners to safeguard Canada’s natural and cultural heritage.
Adam, speaking as a Dene spiritual leader, welcomed visitors interested in the site’s cultural and historical importance but stressed the importance of informing the park about any planned ceremonies or visits. Recognizing the contributions of Indigenous peoples, Parks Canada emphasized the significance of ongoing partnerships with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis entities in fulfilling its mandate to conserve and showcase Canada’s heritage.