A pow wow dancer helps open events at Kinsmen Park on Tuesday. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Indigenous culture

Education and culture sharing key themes in P.A. for National Indigenous Peoples’ Day

Jun 21, 2022 | 5:16 PM

Seventeen-year-old Rindrow Starchief travelled all the way from Whitebear reserve to Prince Albert this week to participate in the National Indigenous Peoples’ Day events.

He was one of a number of pow wow dancers performing on the Chief Joseph Custer reserve. While acknowledging to paNOW that he gets nervous performing, Starchief said he’s very proud of his culture and takes pride in his dancing.

“It’s important because I’m trying to honour all the people who were there before us and what they had to go through to survive,” he said.

Starchief has been dancing since he could barely walk and was taught by his own family. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

Included with the guest speakers and dancers, were a number of tents, each offered a different learning opportunity for the youth. Haley Godwin is demonstrating moose hide prep and this week will be teaching youth how to take off the flesh, fat and hair. She said it’s important for them to learn their culture.

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“They need to be connecting because it’s healing. This is what will be healing for our people,” she said.

Recalling how she used to help her own mother and grandmother, Godwin said she has appreciated the opportunity to return to the traditional teachings she left when she moved away from the reserve.

“There’s a connection there. You can’t find that anywhere else and you miss the land and you miss your culture,” she explained.

Haley Godwin begins the process of preparing the hide. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

In a separate tent, an elder teaches a young boy how to make a tobacco pouch. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

Sephira Bear helps Celine McDonald at the moose and fish prep tent. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

Ed Stonestand from James Smith Cree Nation is at the storytelling tent and said the stories that were once shared by ancestors can help provide a path for healing.

“The young generation today is getting misled to other things like to drugs and all that stuff, but today we are trying to direct them,” he said.

Growing up with 13 brothers and sisters, Stonestand explained youth today don’t realize how fortunate they are and recalled how strict his own grandparents were, enforcing curfews. Those who failed to abide by the rules would have to go cut wood or do other hard chores. He also recalled as a child being warned by his grandparents about the crazy people out in the world.

“For years and years, we did not believe that until we started going to the schools and things changed,” he said.

Events were also held Tuesday at Kinsmen Park, and there was a PRIDE parade down Central Avenue. Janet Carriere, Executive Director of the Indian Metis Friendship Centre, said it’s important to acknowledge all minority groups.

“We need to get to a place of equality and only by acknowledging and honouring those that aren’t there will we reach that,” she said.

In addition to the day’s events, a fireworks show was scheduled to take place near the Alfred Jenkins Field House around 10 p.m.

Ward 2 Councillor Terra Lennox-Zepp, Police Chief Jon Bergen and Richard Ahenakew were among those to participate in the parade. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

Dignitaries line up for grand entry at Kinsmen Park. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

A drum group performs at Kinsmen Park. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell