Multicultural powwow a twist on tradition

Prince Albert hosted a powwow like no other over the weekend.

Salsa dancing and African singing were some of musical stylings added into the mix at Prince Albert’s first ever Multicultural Powwow. 

A pipe ceremony started the full day of cultural activities off on Saturday morning, and by early afternoon the Indian Metis Friendship Centre was full of dancers dressed in full regalia, drums, singers, and visitors.

A prayer was given and a drum song played to show respect for the veterans in attendance before the grand entrance.

Included in that entrance was Mayor Greg Dionne, a family representing Prince Albert’s African community, Metis representatives, a veteran, and First Nations people.

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Elder Stuart Amyotte envisioned this event about a decade ago, and thanks to partnerships in the community it became a reality.

The roots of Amyotte’s idea lie in his childhood. He was the only aboriginal person in his school.

“I got beatings every day, and you know I got strapped every day. If it wasn’t the teachers it was the students,” he said, reflecting lightly on those years.

Eventually things got better and he started playing with other children.

“I think to myself, ‘why did that happen?’ And it’s because we didn’t know each other. We didn’t know each other, our way of life you know,” Amyotte explained.

His solution to create that positive change on a larger level led to the Multicultural Powwow.

 “There are too many misunderstandings I guess, you know, about our people, about this place here, and about other things,” he said.

“We’ll get the people to see our way of life, you know, a bit of it, and in turns we’ll get them to show us theirs.”

The powwow was the second-last event in a week full of events in commemoration of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

Here are paNOW’’s stories on other events during the week:

POLL: Colourful pledge pushes for acceptance

Spirits and culture to collide at Carlton

Sacred ritual heightens the senses of P.A. students

Friends gather at Friendship Centre for Stew & Bannock Lunch

Overall Amyotte said there are a lot of good steps with cultural understanding in Prince Albert, with the only roadblock being ignorance.

 “Every [week] should be race relations week. Not just one week, and after a while we can change to who we used to be,” he said.

The dancing didn’t end when the powwow was over. A round dance took people to the Senator Allen Bird Memorial Centre on Saturday night, hosting by the First Nations University of Canada Northern Campus Student Association.

claskowski@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @chelsealaskowsk