(Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

community event

Final preparations begin for community powwow

May 16, 2019 | 9:41 AM

Over 3,000 people are expected to fill Kinsmen Park later this month for the second annual “Heart of the Youth” community powwow, according to the event’s coordinator.

Liz Settee, who is also Elder for Prince Albert Outreach, told paNOW they had about 1,800 people registered last year.

“Obviously, the numbers show that it’s something that is needed and wanted in the community,” she said.

Settee explained when they first set out to plan the first powwow, they had only planned to do it every two years, but when the first event was so successful, they were many people who said they should hold it every year.

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Some volunteers discuss their responsibilities at the powwow. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

This year’s powwow has been scheduled to take place May 24 at Kinsmen Park. A volunteers’ meeting was held Wednesday afternoon at Won-Ska Cultural School. Settee explained they will have over 100 youth involved in the planning and running of the event. Some of their responsibilities will include looking after the elders and picking up garbage from the grounds.

“We wanted to involve them in every step of the powwow. They are going to be our future leaders and being involved at this stage, when they get older it might be something they want to plan themselves one day because I am not going to be around forever,” she laughed.

Settee added the event also gives the youth a sense of purpose and pride in their culture. Victor Daniels, 19, from One Arrow First Nation has been asked to assist with the drumming duties, a job he’s very proud of.

“It kind of brings back memories for me. When I was on the reserve my grandpa would run the sweat lodge and I helped him out with the drumming,” he said.

Opening ceremonies for the event have been scheduled to start at 10 a.m. on May 24, with lunch provided at Noon.

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nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell