P.A. community hand in hand at Newcomers Round Dance

The event was often referred to as a bridge between the various groups in Prince Albert as people from different nations joined hands with strangers to dance with big smiles on their faces.

“It’s a place for people to come together and socialize and enjoy each other’s company,” Janet Carriere, executive director at the Indian and Metis Friendship Centre, said. “Hopefully we can make a more tolerant community.”

Organizers and guests have seen divisions, misunderstandings and stereotypes in the Prince Albert community.

“I think there’s a lot of misinformation,” Samara Harp from the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation said.

“For instance if people are immigrating here from a different country and they need some extra help, I feel like there’s some misconceptions if those services are being used by newcomers…there might be people upset about jobs.”

“We call it racism I think it’s more ignorance of not understanding each other,” Carriere said. “I think if we learn a little bit more about each other we will be a little bit more tolerant towards our differences and embrace our likenesses.”

Harp said it was likely that Prince Albert residents didn’t understand each other because they weren’t exposed to one another. “There’s a lot of opportunities to go to powwows and round dances in the city, however I don’t think everyone’s hearing about it.”

“This is so important for all of us,” President of SaskCulture Pat Grayston said. “You can’t force people to be inclusive. All you can do is try to provide avenues for people to be inclusive.”

Attendees trickled in during the feast and pipe ceremony, prompting Harp to comment “Even tonight there should be a much higher turnout.”

As the night continued, however, the gym filled up, and the round dance circles became bigger and bigger as people came together.

Michelle Hassler from the Prince Albert Multicultural Council acknowledged that the round dance would not solve the problems in Prince Albert, but it was a way to “bring fresh ideas…so that all those stereotypes will dissolve and everyone will live together peacefully.”

Hassler, like many at the event, had never attended a round dance before. A newcomer from the Philippines herself, she was excited to see different cultures at one gathering in Prince Albert.

“It’s an honour for newcomers here in our city,” she said.

ssterritt@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @spencer_sterrit

by Spencer Sterritt

P.A. community hand in hand at Newcomers Round Dance

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