Students from James Smith Cree Nation performed a version of the 'The Boy Who Cried Wolf.' (Nigel Maxwell/paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

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PAGC Fine Arts Festival celebrates 30th anniversary

Apr 25, 2023 | 5:00 PM

Over 1,700 youth, from 25 different schools across Northern Saskatchewan, have gathered in Prince Albert this week for a special event.

The Prince Albert Grand Council Fine Arts Festival is celebrating its 30th anniversary. Organizer Shona Tretiak noted the event, which is taking place at the Prince Albert Exhibition Centre, did a make a modest return last year with about half the amount of kids.

“Two years being absent I thought we might lose it because it happens but we came back strong and showed just how resilient we really are,” she said.

Throughout the week, youth are engaged in a number of activities, including dancing (jigging, square dancing, country line and creative), drama, music, visual arts and literature.

It should be no surprise to learn preparations for an event like this takes months. Tretiak noted each school has a member on the planning committee. She also explained all the teachers do a great job in getting their own schools prepared, and have to first hold their own local festivals to decide who will compete in Prince Albert.

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“It’s a lot of work but it’s a lot of work well worth it”, she said, adding to be one of the longest running events in Prince Albert is a pretty big accomplishment.

In addition to acting in their plays, the students also helped narrate. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

Tammy Stonestand’s group from James Smith Cree Nation finished third in Tuesday’s drama competition.

“We weren’t sure we were coming this year but we decided we were coming together as a school and we got together real quick and so just a lot of our kids are excited to be back here,” she said.

Stonestand explained that in addition to having a lot of fun, and having the opportunity to interact with their peers, the students all return home with valuable social skills.

Sheryl Morin teaches at Wapawikoscikan School in Pelican Narrows and said their kids get equally excited about coming to Prince Albert, and having the opportunity to experience life outside their community.

“It also means they get to see their relatives from other communities,” she explained, adding as teachers they benefit from seeing the kinds of events and programming happening in other schools.

Students from Pelican Narrows could barely contain their excitement. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

Students from Shoal Lake get ready to perform. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

In preparation for this week’s festival, the Grade 5/6 students at Wapawikoscikan School have been rehearsing since Feb. 1. Acknowledging she herself does not speak Cree, Morin explained parents, grandparents and their Cree teacher played an active role, working one-on-one with the students to learn the Cree speaking parts of the play.

“Their self esteem has increased immensely because every time we have looked at our videos, we have gotten better and better so they are learning to use technology in order to improve their skills,” she said. In addition to helping build peer supports, the family relationship bonds are also strengthened.

“It also shows their parents they are the primary number one teacher in a child’s life,” Morin said.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell