By Fred Payton.  Twenty-seven people crowded into the Chapel of St. Alban’s Cathedral on the morning of Thursday June 21^st, National Aboriginal Day. Amongst them were the Chief of the Prince Albert Police Service, the Mayor of Prince Albert, and the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly. All had heeded the call of Lawrence Joseph, Chief of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations, to make National Aboriginal Day a special Day of Prayer.

Before the service began, a letter was read from the Bishop of Saskatchewan, the Right Reverend Anthony Burton, expressing his regrets and those of the Dean of the Diocese at their inability to attend the service. They were both away at the General Synod. A letter from Lon Borgerson, Member of the Legislative Assembly for Saskatchewan Rivers constituency was also read.

Father Ken Lyons, an Assistant Priest at the Cathedral, led prayers for unity, wisdom, and healing. An elder, Howard Bighead, intoned a prayer in the Cree language, and Archdeacon Adam Halkett led the congregation in saying the Lord’s Prayer, and sent them out into the world with a blessing in Cree.

There was a broad range of ethnic diversity represented at the service. People of Asian, African, and European backgrounds joined Aboriginal members of the congregation. Amongst the denominations represented, other than Anglican, were Roman Catholic, Lutheran, and Ukrainian Orthodox. Age groups from toddlers to nonagenarians were present.

After the service, tea and bannock were served on the lawn of the Cathedral.