The third annual Heart of The Youth Community Powwow in Prince Albert was expected to draw around 4,000 people this year. (file photo/paNOW Staff) 

By Glenn Hicks

powwow

Community Powwow postponed amid COVID-19 concerns

Apr 1, 2020 | 2:42 PM

One of the organizers of the annual Heart of The Youth Community Powwow in Prince Albert says it “hurts my heart” the colourful gathering planned for the spring can’t proceed.

It was set for May 22 at Kinsmen Park but the COVID-19 pandemic has caused an indefinite postponement.

“Culture is so important to our community: the sharing, the healing – the jingle dress dancers do the healing – just a celebration of people coming together from all walks of life,” Liz Settee with P.A. Outreach told paNOW.

She said while the event is very important, they needed to consider the health risk.

“This is something that would heal our spirit, but if we bring out 3,000 people, are we going to get other people sick doing it?” she explained.

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Settee said over 3,200 came out last year for the second annual running of the popular event and she hoped for 4,000 this time around.

She noted the organizing committee had considered possibly moving the powwow to September but that was still up in the air, as was the potential to have it indoors at a later part of the year.

“We could look at that option… but having it in an indoor space it would definitely not be the same as having it in Kinsmen Park, which is the heart of the city. And that went very well with Heart of The Youth,” she said.

Filing the cultural void

Settee had advice for anyone who had concerns about not being able to have such an important cultural and collective outlet, given the self-isolation everyone is enduring at the moment.

“Just practice your dancing at home, even if it’s in your bedroom. Put on some music and dance to that,” she said.

She added anyone feeling like they were in need of cultural support at this difficult time could contact P.A. Outreach.

“If you need to connect with an elder, P.A. Outreach has access to that,” she said.

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glenn.hicks@jpbg.ca

On Twitter:@princealbertnow