The people of Kashechewan First Nations have been through a lot with the flooding and being relocated and last weekend they had a break.

The Anowarako:wa Arena hosted a picnic where the guests got a chance to mingle with locals, enjoy some great food, watch some local lacrosse action, listen to great music and do a little Hollywood stargazing.

Actor/Director/Environmentalist Steven Segal paid a visit to the delight of the Kashechewan guests as well as local fans.

While the picnic was going on outside, the various Akwesasne Storm lacrosse teams were hosting teams from Gloucester. Those spectators were surprised to see Steven Segal suddenly appear and take in a few minutes of a game to which they ran up for a picture or autograph. Segal then went outside and a line up was formed for more autographs and pictures.

Segal has been in movies such as Under Siege, On Deadly Ground and Above The Law. He is also a musician, Animal Rights activist, Martial Arts Instructor and host of a reality show called Steven Segal: Lawman.

Everyone at the picnic was treated to Indian Tacos, different salads, hamburgers, hot dogs, fruit and drinks all provided free for the guests.

Live entertainment featured Bryan the Blues Man entertainment. Owner Bryan Garrow does DJ and Karaoke and even has been known to belt out some tunes from his own Karaoke library.

George Tooker was also on hand and he played renditions of Johnny Cash classics.

Tooker has past experiences with the Kashechewan people as he travelled to their territory during past flooding.

Those trips were provided out of pocket and offered his entertaining for free. His only condition was that they feed him.

Tooker says he was a student of the late local musician Andy White and he learned everything he knows from him. He also frequents the Mohawk Nation Longhouse and plays there often.

For the youth during this day, bounce houses were set up throughout the lacrosse field and were well used. Volleyball nets, which Akwesasronon played for fun with and against the guests, were set up and some also took advantage of the soccer nets.

The Kashechewan visitors do not know how long they are going to be housed at Nav/Can in Cornwall.

According to reports from home, the flooding in the territory has stopped and the water has receded. However, the timetable to return to their Nation is still up in the air because of the damage caused by the flooding. One of the guests said their medical facility had four feet of sewage in it and the Chief there has declared the area off limits until it is properly cleaned up.

Dishing out the picnic goodies for the hungry crowds.

Earlier last month a donation center was set up at the Kanatakon Recreation Center where clothes were collected to help and in previous years similar events were held in schools.

Later on that evening the Kashechewan were offered to a social and a trip to the Akwesasne Casino and Resort for a night of Cosmic Bingo.