Lake pilgrimage changes with times

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With increased Aboriginal direction and operation, the religious gathering of the Lac Ste. Anne pilgrimage has been reshaped to accommodate the ever increasing Native visitors.

With more than 40,000 people attending the pilgrimage annually, this year the event held from July 22 to 27 celebrated a new partnership between Aboriginal people and the Missionary Oblates of Grandin Province.

Last January an interim planning committee comprised of the First Nations, Metis Nation and the Oblates was formed to initiate the new arrangement.

"The content for Native participation has increased and it will probably continue to increase as the committee will take more control of the pilgrimage and the site itself," said interim chairman Charles Wood.

Since it's beginning in 1889 by the Oblates, the pilgrimage has had an historical connection with Aboriginal people across the nation. Visitors attend to bathe in the lake that is believed to have healing powers related to apparitions of St. Anne walking on the water.

"A part of the history that is not known is that years before even the Europeans came into the territory, various tribes of the area used to come to the site for healing and considered it a sacred place," said Wood."It is not publicized that the Europeans came into the area because they heard of this sacred gathering place of the Aboriginal people. Our people had seen apparitions and visions there before the Europeans came."

Wood feels it is appropriate that Aboriginal people have more control of the site because of the deep history it has to the Native people and is pleased to see more First Nations taking an active involvement.