The Heart of the Youth Powwow was held today at Kinsmen Park, the first time in several years it has been an in-person event. (Susan McNeil/paNOW Staff)

By Susan McNeil

Heart of the Youth Powwow

Togetherness and inclusiveness at youth pow wow

May 27, 2022 | 2:23 PM

Today marked the first time in several years that Prince Albert was able to host the Heart of the North Powwow as an in-person event. Unlike COVID-19, the weather and the community co-operated.

Hundreds of students and teachers gathered on the lawn of Kinsmen Park dressed in everything from traditional indigenous regalia to orange shirts or just regular street clothes.

Colours, culture, history, youth and the modern world all met in the sunshine at the 2022 Heart of the Youth Powwow today in Prince Albert. (Susan McNeil/paNOW Staff)

Colours, culture, history, youth and the modern world all met in the sunshine at the 2022 Heart of the Youth Powwow today in Prince Albert. (Susan McNeil/paNOW Staff)

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Colours, culture, history, youth and the modern world all met in the sunshine at the 2022 Heart of the Youth Powwow today in Prince Albert. (Susan McNeil/paNOW Staff)

Colours, culture, history, youth and the modern world all met in the sunshine at the 2022 Heart of the Youth Powwow today in Prince Albert. (Susan McNeil/paNOW Staff)

Colours, culture, history, youth and the modern world all met in the sunshine at the 2022 Heart of the Youth Powwow today in Prince Albert. (Susan McNeil/paNOW Staff)

Colours, culture, history, youth and the modern world all met in the sunshine at the 2022 Heart of the Youth Powwow today in Prince Albert. (Susan McNeil/paNOW Staff)

Colours, culture, history, youth and the modern world all met in the sunshine at the 2022 Heart of the Youth Powwow today in Prince Albert. (Susan McNeil/paNOW Staff)

As 12-year-old Mackenzie Morin of Big River First Nation explained, dancing at a powwow has a deep meaning, as did the red dress she danced in.

“I’m wearing an MMIW dress because there’s a lot of people going missing. I wear this because I feel I should support them,” she said.

Like multiple other dancers at the powwow, which featured students from all races and cultures, Mackenzie has been dancing since she could walk.

“I’m here to just dance. I don’t really think about it, I just dance,” she said.

While she is unsure of where her dancing will take her, Mackenzie said she hopes it is somewhere big.

Like Mackenzie, nine-year-old Bliss, who is from Wahpetan Dakota Nation, has been dancing since she was a toddler as well.

With few words to say, Bliss did say that her mother had sewn her dress, which was also red and featured very detailed beading on her neckware.

Nine-year-old Bliss is from Wahpetan, and was wearing a dress sewn by her mother. (Susan McNeil/paNOW Staff)

This year’s powwow had a theme of inclusivity for all people with focus on those who are two-spirited.

Colours, culture, history, youth and the modern world all met in the sunshine at the 2022 Heart of the Youth Powwow today in Prince Albert. (Susan McNeil/paNOW Staff)

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susan.mcneil@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @princealbertnow