Master of Ceremonies Cal Arcand interviews Donald MacDonald and his little friend Emery Burningrass. Jeff D'Andrea/paNOW Staff

By Jeff D’Andrea

Virtual healing

All in this Together event provides healing through laughter, music and good advice

Mar 14, 2021 | 12:33 PM

Over three years ago, Donald MacDonald from the Onion Lake Cree Nation made a $5 purchase at a thrift store that would change his life forever.

He bought a hand puppet at a secondhand shop in Saskatoon. After adding some braids and red bandana and some magic marker tattoos, Emery Burningrass was born.

Emery has since become an internet sensation, earning a following of just shy of 40,000 people on his Facebook page. Since then, Emery and MacDonald traveled all over Canada and in the United States and played over 280 shows. Their travels continued to Prince Albert on Saturday, where Emery and MacDonald cohosted the All in this Together virtual gathering alongside master of ceremonies, Cal Arcand.

“At the end of the day, my intentions are to bring laughter and healing to our people, because we need it in our communities,” MacDonald said.

Part of the opening ceremonies for the All in This Together virtual gathering. (Jeff D’Andrea/paNOW Staff)

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The Prince Albert Grand Council and the Meadow Lake Tribal Council teamed up to present the virtual gathering and give an opportunity for everybody to forget about the pandemic for a few hours on a Saturday night.

“[The pandemic] has really impacted the mental wellness of our people in a negative way, so it’s good to put these kind of virtual events on to showcase our comedians, our talented musicians and some of our heroes like [Edmonton Oiler] Ethan Bear,” Arcand said.

The event also managed to promote everybody to get a COVID-19 vaccine when it becomes available to them.

“It means a lot to everybody and we’re really trying to promote ‘all in this together,’” Arcand said. “Now, we’re getting through one year, but you know, we’re looking at another six months of some tough time.”

The show was broadcasted from the Senator Allan Bird Memorial Gym. The gymnasium was kept dark, except for some well-placed lights beside the stage where Arcand and the performers would shoot their scenes, before live bands would play on the stage. What replaced a live audience were cameras, lights and wires.

But comedian Conway Kootenay was thrilled for the opportunity to perform outside of his basement. Kootenay, known for playing a number of characters like Smudge Pan the “Indian Hanson Brother” said this was his first gig outside of his home since the pandemic hit last year.

“Just being able to go on a road again and you know see my buddies and everybody, it’s starting to feel a little bit normal. It’s giving me a little bit of hope,” Kootenay said.

“Get the vaccine and keep people safe, especially, you know, when you’re in communities,” added Kootenay. “It’s very, very important for us to keep our elders safe and the young ones.”

Other performers and appearances were made by hockey players Ethan Bear of the Edmonton Oilers, Brigette Lacquette from the Canadian Women’s National Team and Stanley Cup winner Dwight King. Don Burnstick, Yvonne St. Germaine, Michaela Shannon, Constant Reminder and North Sound also performed.

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jeff.dandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW