The second annual In-SHUCK-ch Days, a two-day celebration of In-SHUCK-ch culture, drew about 550 people to Skatin to participate in traditional events on Aug. 23 and 24.

Locals and visitors mingled happily and soaked up the culture as community members led a variety of sessions about practices such as drumming, cedar weaving, the traditional language and the bone game, passing on knowledge through fun events.

Kerry Giesbrecht, an In-SHUCK-ch Days organizer and youth coordinator for the In-SHUCK-ch Nation, said the overall purpose of the celebration is the “revitalization of our culture,” and she thinks it succeeded beautifully.

She pointed to the Saturday ceremony involving the traditional Siq’úta dance as an example of the moving and inspirational nature of the event as a whole.

Before the event, young people and elders from the community had attended sessions where they practiced the regional dance with Gerald Gabriel and made the traditional dance outfits. At In-SHUCK-ch Days, 12 young people ranging in age from approximately six to 22 then participated in a “Standing Up” ceremony, during which the community formally recognized them as dancers who have the right to wear the clothing.

The elders often ask for such youth involvement in traditional practices, Giesbrecht said, and it brought joy to them and the other spectators to see that in action.

“Everyone was smiles and joy,” Giesbrecht said, adding, “You could just feel the medicine in the crowd.”

Reddnation, a hip-hop and rap group from Alberta, led another popular session about alcohol awareness and goal-setting, as well as performing on Saturday night along with Eric Peters, Jaysun Williams and a blues-rock act.

Meanwhile, thanks in part to a $10,000 B.C. 150th anniversary grant, six kiosks are being erected along the In-SHUCK-ch Forest Service Road to shed light on the significance behind certain spots. Before last month’s In-SHUCK-ch Days, community members put up the first one at 41 kilometres, and it and an accompanying B.C. 150 ceremony drew plenty of attention, Giesbrecht said.

Thirty sponsors and nine donors contributed about $45,500 to ensure In-SHUCK-ch Days could run successfully and be virtually free for all attendees, Giesbrecht said. The B.C. 150 program also kicked in money for the kiosks, and the Canada Council for the Arts gave $7,000 for the Standing Up ceremony.

Though organizers had hoped to attract about 400 people per day, Giesbrecht said, the 350 Saturday attendees and 200 who came for meals and pleasant mingling on Sunday expressed their support of the cultural efforts and their desire to come back next year.

“I think a lot of people liked a lot of the workshops — I think they liked what we were doing with the culture,” Giesbrecht said.

Planning has already started for the 2009 In-SHUCK-ch Days, which again will take place in August, she said.