Photos courtesy of Grand Portage community Grand Portage youths participated in the Ninth Annual American Indian Heritage Day with the Minnesota Twins at the Metrodome on Saturday, September 19, 2009. Upper Left: Senior Brave Jaden Aubid represented Grand Portage. Upper right: Grand Portage Senior Princess Autumn Clearwater-Day dancing on the field with the other Princessess— she is the sixth dancer, above the “n” in the Minnesota Twins emblem. Far Left: Conrad Roy showing his Twins baseball souvenir. Conrad tossed out the ceremonial first pitch, in memory of his grandfather, Grand Portage tribal elder, Gilbert Caribou. Left: Autumn Clearwater-Day waits to dance.
Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa representatives—Senior Princess Autumn Clearwater- Day and Senior Brave Jaden Aubid—participated in the Ninth Annual American Indian Heritage Day with the Minnesota Twins at the Metrodome on Saturday, September 19, 2009. Joining them were their families and the family of a tribal leader, the late Gilbert Caribou. Caribou’s grandson, Conrad Roy, threw the first pitch of the afternoon.
A special pre-game educational presentation was emceed by Jerry Dearly. Princess Clearwater-Day and Brave Aubid joined braves and princesses from other reservations on the field of the Metrodome, sharing their heritage through traditional dance to the drum of the Little Earth Singers of Minneapolis. Also taking part was the Sisseton-Wahpeton Vietnam Veteran Honor Guard from Sisseton, South Dakota.
This year, the festivities were to honor all those who have passed on. Bald Eagle Erectors, the American Indian Economic Development Fund, and the Minnesota American Indian Chamber of Commerce sponsored Twins jerseys with each tribe’s name on the back to honor those who have passed on from Tribal Nations: Grand Portage Band, White Earth Band, Bois Forte Band, Red Lake Nation, Leech Lake Reservation, Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, Fond du Lac Band, Prairie Island Indian Community, Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, Upper Sioux Indian Community, and Lower Sioux Indian Community.
Among those who have passed on is Gilbert Caribou, who was the secretary/treasurer of the Grand Portage Band for many years. Caribou passed on January 28, 2009. Greatly missed by his family, the Grand Portage community, and beyond, Caribou was remembered by his grandson, Conrad Roy, who threw the ceremonial first pitch.
After the presentation, participants enjoyed watching the game in which the Minnesota Twins defeated the Detroit Tigers, 6-2. Anna Deschampe, Grand Portage Education Director said, “The Minnesota Twins and their fans were extremely welcoming and supportive of participants. After the presentation they were told good job, and were asked questions about their dancing regalia and community as they walked through the Metrodome. Thiswas an exciting and positive event in which the Grand Portage community was proud to participate.”
The Minnesota Indian Affairs Council and the Minnesota American Indian Chamber of Commerce sponsored the event. TheMinnesota American Indian Chamber of Commerce works for the Indian community including all eleven tribal communities. As a Chamber of Commerce, a main portion of the chamber’s job is to promote Indian organizations, professionals, and businesses by facilitating the relationships that bring partners to the table and help bridge divisions between communities and cultures.
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