The Round Plain Jrs. from Wahpeton gave an inspiring performance Tuesday afternoon at the Prince Albert Exhibition Centre. (Nigel Maxwell/paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Strengthening culture

Winter Festival event promotes community and culture

Feb 22, 2022 | 5:35 PM

The Prince Albert Winter Festival is based on promoting culture and community, and a Pow Wow dancing demonstration was included with a family event Tuesday afternoon at the Prince Albert Exhibition Centre.

The dancers and drum group, Round Plain Jrs., are from Wahpeton Dakota Nation north of Prince Albert. Chaska Omani, 15, told paNOW he was very proud to perform for the children in the crowd.

“I was taught through my dad and other dancers, and I’ve just been dancing for so long, I just want to have the opportunity to show other people how to dance,” he said.

Omani demonstrates a traditional dance. (Nigel Maxwell/paNOW Staff)

Omani is also a youth councillor at Wahpeton and stressed how proud he was to show off who he is for the younger children watching.

Labour dispute

Canada Post strike enters 19th day; but Santa letters getting delivered

1h ago

Tragic events

Fatal fire at Clearwater River Dene Nation claims two lives including teenage girl

1h ago

Warm Weather could stay longer than expected

Prince Albert's weird weather forecast explained

1h ago

“You know the ones that are Indigenous and come here and don’t know a lot of their culture. I’ve seen a few of them and maybe they want to get into their culture and where they come from,” he said.

Akita Waditaka, 14, also stressed the importance of sharing her culture.

“Its pretty important to keep our culture in our youth so we don’t lose our culture,” she said.

The youngest member of the group moved with grace and confidence. (Nigel Maxwell/paNOW Staff)

Following the demonstration, members from the crowd, regardless of their ethnicity and backgrounds, were invited to join in an inter-tribal dance. Acknowledging some people may be a bit shy about getting up and dancing, the group’s spokesperson Bill Waditaka explained dancing represents medicine for your soul.

(Nigel Maxwell/paNOW Staff)

For those who missed the show Tuesday, the Family Dayz event runs again Wednesday from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

–

nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell