By Caitlin Brezinski

A celebration of culture and community

Oct 11, 2014 | 4:03 PM

The 16th Annual Northern Lights Casino Powwow is underway this weekend at the Art Hauser Centre in Prince Albert.  Various performers, vendors, local residents and those traveling from different places are all coming together for the celebration. 

Passing on the tradition

Some Elders are sharing the importance of tradition and culture to younger generations.

Local resident Cec Williams brought her three year old great grandson from La Ronge to this weekend’s festivities.  She said she brought him to one powwow so far and hopes he will be able to understand the importance of them. 

“I think that it’s important for [him] to see some of his heritage and he’s young yet but he loves the drums and the music and the dances,” she said.

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Gordan Dreaver has been a dancer for around 50 years and said it’s important to pass the culture along to everybody he meets.

“[It’s] just my way of life,” he said, adding that he came to the powwow to “enjoy life while it’s here and support [his] hometown.”

His grandson, 18 year old John Dreaver, has been going to powwows ever since he can remember.  He travels with his family to see and participate in the festivities.

“It gives me someplace to come sing, dance, and feel good about myself,” he said.

14 year old Macy Bear said coming to the powwow is a family tradition and has been going for the past ten years. 

“It’s just part of our culture,” she said.

She said she danced in the fancy and jingle categories last year but came to help out this year.  

Vendors / visitors  

Vendors from various places came to set up booths and sell different items as part of the celebration. 

Edgar Gualoto has been participating for the past five years as a vendor, selling arts, crafts and clothing.

“At the beginning, I was doing my traditional performance here with my [pan flute] music and then they gave me the opportunity to set up a table,” he said.

Gualoto, originally from Ecuador and now living in Alberta, said he enjoys traveling to events and meeting people.   

This is Frances Goulet’s fifth year selling arts and crafts at the powwow.  She travels from a small community in northeast Saskatchewan about four hours away to take part in the powwow every year.   

She said she hopes to see “a lot of happy people because it’s good weather, lots of good powwow music and lots of beautiful colour.”

Sandra Collier, from La Ronge, is participating in the powwow for the first time.  She set up a booth with traditional jewelry which she makes herself.  She said she has been making jewelry all her life and hopes people appreciate the work that goes into it.

“I like making people happy and I love making the jewelry, all sorts of different kinds so you don’t see much of the same thing,” she said.

The celebration continues tomorrow, with the grand entry beginning at noon.  Anyone can attend and there is no fee to get in.

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