A young powwow dancer participated in the inter-tribal dance. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Community building

Prince Albert youth powwow promotes community and culture

May 31, 2024 | 2:20 PM

Lanaya Bear says she feels very proud anytime she can engage in activities that promote her culture.

The 14-year-old from Whitefish was among dozens of youth participating in Friday’s Heart of the Youth Powwow at Prince Albert’s Kinsmen Park.

Over 4,000 people, many of which students from local schools, attended the day long event. Bear explained the event is important because youth represent our future leaders.

“So they should take as much as they can from the adults right now so they can carry on the messages for many generations,” she said.

Keyshanna Ballantyne, 11, from Sturgeon Lake First Nation, said the event is fun.

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“I’m proud of my culture and I like dancing,” she commented.

Lanaya Bear. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

(Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

(Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

The Heart of the Youth Powwow was started in 2017 and committee member Liz Settee, who was also celebrating her own birthday on Friday, has been involved since day one.

“It’s so exciting because the youth are so excited about it and they bring such beautiful energy,” she said.

Settee added the event represents an opportunity for not just the youth in the schools to come together, but the entire community as a whole.

“We have got so many youth who are practicing dance at school but they’ve got no place to showcase it. They don’t feel they are ready for competitions or anything like that and so this is a place where they can go go and practice what they are doing and show other people what they’re learning,” she said.

To mark Settee’s birthday, the crowd sang happy birthday. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

Nicole Matheis is another committee member and works at Communities Building Youth Futures.

“This is truly just a display that youth are yearning to learn about their culture, be a part of the community and to celebrate their culture,” she said

A number of dignitaries attended Friday’s event including representatives from the Prince Albert Police Service, Prince Albert City Council, local MLAs, and Prince Albert Grand Council. Noting how his own grandson was in the crowd watching, PAGC Grand Chief Brian Hardlotte said it was an honor to take part in the grand entry and support the powwow.

Prince Albert Mayor Greg Dionne with PAGC Grand Chief Brian Hardlotte. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

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