Keeley Tootoosis paints the face of her dad, Richard, a traditional powwow dancer from Poundmaker Cree Nation, who took part in the 2nd annual Interschool Powwow at the Centennial Civic Centre on June 1 with more than 2,500 students in attendance. Geoff Lee Meridian Source
The Heart of Treaty 6 was beating strongly during the second annual Interschool Powwow that attracted about 2,500 people inside the Centennial Civic Centre.
The sponsored event went ahead last Thursday with all the makings of a traditional powwow.
“The powwow is a celebration for everyone coming together, having fun, cheering, sharing stories as well as making new friends and providing that understanding,” said lead organizer Clint Chocan.
“It’s a traditional powwow.”
He said all dancers and singers will receive an honorarium of sorts –a meal and a gift in the traditional format.
About 50 students from the Lloydminster Public and Lloydminster Catholic School Division, Onion Lake, Northwest and Buffalo Trail danced as well as 15 adults from the area.
One of the young dancers was Tenley Jordan, the granddaughter of Cynthia Young, Aboriginal coordinator at LCSD, who was so excited for her.
“It was years ago we weren’t able to do these kinds of things, so it’s so nice she can embrace her culture,” said Young, referencing a period in Canada’s history when powwows were outlawed.
“She’s in Grade 2 at École St. Thomas, so she’s trilingual–she learns Cree, French and English.”
The Prairie Thunder Boys from LPSD were also in the mix of drummers.
“They’ve been practising and going around to different powwows as well,” said LPSD director of education, Jason Neville.
He was one of the many participants and dignitaries who spoke about what the event means to students before the start of the grand entrance.
“It’s huge on the ‘truth and reconciliation’ piece and just builds that sense of belonging that we try to instill in all our students across the division,” added Neville.
Chocan added this powwow means a lot to the Indigenous community to share their culture, so other nations and non-Indigenous people will learn about their beliefs, their protocols and create a better understanding.
The cultural part of the powwow was on the mind of dancer Richard Tootoosis from Poundmaker Cree Nation, who was set to go after his daughter Keeley painted his face.
“It’s about time white students see what we do in our powwows. These outfits I am wearing mean a lot to us,” he said while pointing to various parts of his regalia.
“These eagle feathers I am wearing and this (pointing to a headdress part) is made out of porcupine hair and white hair on the edge here is from a deer, the tail part.”
Tootoosis also set the scene for what was to come during the day.
“I think they’re going to have a little powwow and I’m going to demonstrate some traditional powwow. I’m a traditional dancer,” he said.
The cultural lessons were top of mind for LCSD director of education, Nigel McCarthy, with about 800 divisional students in attendance.
“I think every day we learn a bit more about culture, a little bit more about ceremony, but also then, what is our commitment as treaty people,” said McCarthy.
“That’s what this is really all about, but it’s also about celebrating strength and that’s what we really need to do as a Canadian culture.”
Lloydminster MLA Colleen Young missed the inaugural outdoors event at Lakeland College and was excited to finally participate and add her thoughts on the powwow’s impact on students.
“I think it’s part of the reconciliation and the recognition among students that we are all the same people on the same land,” she said.
Lloydminster Mayor Gerald Aalbers says it gives everyone the opportunity to see how powwows are a very important part of Indigenous culture.
“To have it in the city, and for students to see it firsthand is tremendous,” he said.
