Mosquito Grizzly Bear’s Head Lean Man First Nation (MGBHLM) Economic Development had their second annual traditional Powwow on The Ridge on Aug.23 2024 (Kenneth Cheung/battlefordsNOW staff)

By Kenneth Cheung

INDIGENOUS SOLIDARITY

Annual Powwow honours survivors and embraces the past

Aug 24, 2024 | 4:11 PM

When people think about Powwows, they may imagine endless dancing with traditional footwork, bouncing to the beat of a thundering drum, and colourful regalia rich with culture; however, behind all the celebration, there is a greater reason for some to attend. For David Pelletier, the powwow is an opportunity to reflect on First Nations people as the original inhabitants of the land that is now Canada.

“We didn’t sell it, we didn’t give it up, we didn’t lose in a fight for it. We just decided we were going to share it. But when it comes to sharing, it seems that the non-native people get a bigger piece of the pie than us,“ said Pelletier who served as a peacekeeper in the Canadian Armed Forces for five years in the 1970s. He is also president of the Saskatchewan First Nations Veterans Association North Battleford branch.

MGBHLM Economic Development had its second annual traditional Powwow on Aug.23, 2024, to commemorate residential school survivors and First Nations veterans. (Kenneth Cheung/ battlefordsNOW)

Mosquito Grizzly Bear’s Head Lean Man First Nation (MGBHLM) Economic Development had their second annual traditional Powwow on The Ridge on Friday to commemorate residential school survivors, First Nation veterans and the eight Indigenous men who were hanged at Battleford in 1885.

“I hope we can have a good celebration for the 74 young ones buried here [at the ridge]. They didn’t have the chance to celebrate or go back home to be with their families the way they wanted to,” said Celest Sanders, MGBHLM band councillor.

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“And the eight soldiers in the mass hanging, we are here to honour them today.”

Sanders was referring to the hanging on November 27, 1885, of eight Indigenous men for murders committed during the North-West Rebellion. It is considered the largest mass execution in Canada’s history.

One of the Indigenous youth dancers. (Kenneth Cheung/battlefordsNOW)

Pelletier said that being part of the Powwow and having Indigenous people from all generations present allows them to touch their roots but also embrace how far they have come in society after being oppressed and forced to adapt to mainstream culture.

“It is like trying to make an apple be an orange, and you can’t. You’re an apple.”

“Our people are out here dancing now. They’re free. They can show their feelings and connect to the spirit world, a connection our ancestors didn’t have when they were in residential school,” he explained.

MGBHLM Economic Development second annual traditional Powwow on Aug.23, 2024, (Kenneth Cheung/ battlefordsNOW)

“The cycle has to be stopped and be broken,” said Alice Pahtayken, a day school survivor.

Pahtayken recalled that her parents protected her from being taken away as a child. “When they knew the Indian agents were coming, they would hide me and keep me hidden until it was safe.”

Indian agents were Canadian government representatives on First Nations reserves from the 1830s to the 1960s. They implemented government policy, enforced the Indian Act, and managed the affairs of Indigenous people.

(Kenneth Cheung/battlefordsNOW)

Pahtayken said she is happy that society has started to realize the traumas that First Nations people have endured generationally, but she believes the only way to reach reconciliation is to keep moving on.

“People have to learn to move forward and let things go; we can never forget, but we can forgive,” she said.

The veteran representatives held a gun salute. (Kenneth Cheung/battlefordsNOW staff)

The annual Powwow featured traditional dancing competitions for all ages, performances of honour songs, and a gun salute.

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Kenneth.Cheung@pattisonmedia.com