Trees at the powwow site behind the Badlands Community Facility were honoured through song and prayer by Indigenous Elder John Sinclair on Friday, April 8. Elder Sinclair acknowledged the changes that are taking place throughout the Drumheller Valley for flood mitigation work and sang a song grieving the loss of the trees already removed in the area, and a second song celebrating the trees that remain. Following the songs, Elder Sinclair held a prayer, and asked Creator to help and support Drumheller Mayor Heather Colberg and council members as they continue moving forward with the project, and they make decisions and changes for the protection and betterment of the community. At the ceremony were (l-r) Councillor Tony Lacher, Drumheller Resiliency and Flood Mitigation project director Deighen Blakely, Chief Administrative Officer Darryl Drohomerski, Elder John Sinclair, Mayor Heather Colberg, Councillors Stephanie Price and Crystal Sereda.
