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Heart of our Youth community Powwow a rousing success

May 26, 2018 | 8:00 AM

Although the weather was a little dreary, the spirits were high at Kinsmen Park.

At least 750 turned up at the park to take part in the Prince Albert Community Powwow, a turnout which excited the head of the powwow committee, and Prince Albert Outreach Elder Liz Settee.

“I’m so amazed at the people who showed up today, it’s absolutely incredible,” Settee said. “It shows how much something like this is needed yearly.”

Students from all over Prince Albert and schools in the surrounding area descended on Kinsmen Park for the event. Settee said the powwow is an important part of their cultural education; students learned about each dance along with some of the protocols of the arbour.

While the traditional, chicken, fancy bustle, grass, jingle, and fancy shawl dancers had their moments in the spotlight, drum groups also played intertribal songs, which allowed all of the guests in attendance to participate. During the first round of intertribal dances, dancers in regalia were lost among students.

“That’s the way it should be, that’s it. Get them involved, get them up there, you don’t have to be Aboriginal to take part in this, anybody can go to a powwow,” Settee said.

Settee said she hopes to see the community powwow become an annual event. Her thoughts were echoed by Mayor Greg Dionne.

“I’d love to see this taken over in this fashion,” Dionne said before noting the powwow used to be hosted by the schools, however when the community workers program was wound down, the powwow got lost. “To get along, you’ve got to learn a little bit about each other’s culture, and I think this is a great way to do it.”

He said he was quite sure after this year’s successful gathering, the powwow will be back again next year.

Rene French started teaching students about drumming at the Won Ska Cultural School in September of 2017. From his own life experience, he said he sees the value in hosting a powwow in the city; he himself grew up off-reserve, and was never able to attend a powwow or other cultural gatherings.

“That’s definitely a big barrier for kids that live in the city centre… doing something like this gets those ones that are interested in their culture,” French said. “[This] gives them a place to showcase some of their talents and what they’ve learned.”

French said he would definitely like to see the community powwow run every year in Prince Albert, however he and his fellow committee members have been working to make the event a biennial gathering, or once every two years.

 

Bryan.Eneas@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @BryanEneas