It was a perfect day for Portage la Prairie's Aboriginal Day at the Fort la Reine museum. The sun shone and the weather was warm as Portage Friendship Centre executive director Shirley Bernard shares what happened.

"We're having our local Aboriginal Day. Portage Friendship Centre is partnering with the Fort la Reine Museum. All kinds of things are going on. We opened up with the First Nations Dancers, Prairie Sage ladies drum group. Then we had our Métis entertainment. We had the Métis Prairie Steppers. Now we've got Johnny Dietrich and his sister Colleen along with Ken. Also, anyone who wants to get up and sing are also involved. They're all having a good time. Beautiful and everything was great. The RCMP is set up giving tours of their car, and D.O.P.S. are also set up giving tours of their car. The Fire Department has their truck, and kids are having fun. Even the elderly people are climbing in and out of those vehicles! Lots of fun."

Photo submitted by Jani WitoskiShe says tables were set up for Southern Health-Santé Sud, D.O.C.F.S., Portage Aboriginal Headstart, Friendship Centre, as well as face-painting, and about five different types of games, hot dogs and water.

Bernard says they thought they'd do well to get far less than what showed up.

"We did a head count at one point of 650 people and counting. There' are still people coming in. I see cars coming in as we speak. Everybody's having so much fun. And even at 650, it was busy, but it was still lots of fun. When we talked about how many people we'd get, we thought if we got 300 or 400 we were doing good."

She thanks the Museum for partnering with them, and all of their other partners, volunteers, and staff. The day was a fantastic success.