The weather forecast said “Clouds and sun with a t-storm” 79 deg. and I set off walking the mile or so to the “Forks” hoping the weather would hold.

The Forks is a historic site and meeting place in Downtown Winnipeg located at the confluence of the Red River and Assiniboine River. For at least 6000 years, the Forks has been the meeting place for early Aboriginal peoples, and since colonization has also been a meeting place for European fur traders, Métis buffalo hunters, Scottish settlers, riverboat workers, railway pioneers and tens of thousands of immigrants.

On my way to the Forks, I passed several of the wonderful murals that the city of Winnipeg has become famous for.

I believe there are around 400 murals in the city.

The streets were deserted and I must admit, I felt a little safer than I did the day before walking the shopping route.

By the time I got to the Forks it was bustling. An indoor market reminding me of the Adelaide Central Market at home with freshly baked bread, the smell of coffee brewing and people enjoying their late breakfast.

Some folks were watching one of the soccer games on a large screen TV,

A young man in a wheel chair was playing cards with an Elderly woman…. I saw them in several areas of the market over the morning. Each time they were engrossed in their game.

I photographed and filmed…

Besides being Fathers Day here in Canada it is also Aboriginal Day and there was to be a Pow Wow later in the day and I grabbed a spot on the banks of the outdoor theater and waited.

I sat there for several hours…absolutely entranced. The drums and singing blended with the dancing. As Quilters I’m sure you will appreciate the beautiful costumes.

I’m compiling a small film to share with you all.

I was in awe, I was transported and I am suffering a little from sunburn, and there were no thunderstorms but I wouldn’t have missed it for the world…

It’s not all I did today, but the blog is a bit long so I’ll add the rest tomorrow….

I want to know more about the costumes and what they mean.