Celebrations filled Fort George Park to mark the 15th National Aboriginal Day on Tuesday.
Sunshine, sizzling bannock, traditional drumming and song, children's games and activities, a talent contest, dunk tank and concert gave the day a festival atmosphere.
"I'm really proud of my aboriginal ancestry, and I think it would be nice to show my daughters," attendee Amber Desjarlais said.
Aboriginal people have a lot to celebrate and be proud of, keynote speaker Mary Teegee said, but there is still work to be done to address historic and current wrongs against aboriginal people in Canada.
"Why we are still here is because we know who we are. Stand up, be loud and proud about it," Teegee said. "Regardless of our hard history, we are still here. We are still proud to be Indian. [And] we are the original, rightful owners of this great country called Canada."
Teegee is the director of child and family services for Carrier Sekani Family Services.
She said she wakes up every day proud of her heritage.
"One of the coolest things about being aboriginal is... I'm only one of 1,000 people who can say they are from Takla Lake [First Nation]," she said. "It is up to us to ensure our young people have that pride and self confidence."
The challenge for today's generation of First Nations people is to overcome the challenges from the past to make a better future for aboriginal children, she said.
First Nations have to continue to fight to have their land claims, traditional territory and right to self-governance recognized, she said.
On Monday B.C. Conservative leader John Cummins told delegates in Williams Lake First Nations land claims should have no special priority when determining if projects like the Prosperity Mine should go ahead.
"Natural resources are owned by all British Columbians, native and non-native alike, and held in trust for all of us by the provincial government," Cummins said. "But we do not take the position, as the Liberals do, that there is inherent native title to all of B.C., and the Supreme Court of Canada agrees with our position."
Cummins cited a 2005 Supreme Court of Canada case which found aboriginal title must be based on hard evidence of use and occupation, not "value claims of traditional hunting grounds."
Teegee said it is precisely that sort of attitude which has poised relationships between aboriginal groups and the government.
"We already own this land. We have been very patient," Teegee said. "But when you have comments like that it infuriates people. I wouldn't go to Germany and tell them what to do with their land. Our blood is in this land. It has history to us."
In addition, government continues to underfund and minimize health and safety issues for First Nations people, she said. First Nations reservations have some of the lowest standards of living in North America, Teegee said.
The investigation into disappearances along the Highway of Tears and inquiry into B.C.'s missing women highlights the social inequality experienced by aboriginal people, especially women, she said.
"When you look at the Highway of Tears. We held a symposium and organized a strategy, and the government promised funding," she said. "We still haven't received any dollars for the last two years. We need commitments in resources, not just words."
