First Nations people and Kamsack area residents wanting an opportunity to witness First Nation culture at its best are invited to a traditional powwow at Cote on November 25.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Dubbed the 鈥淗ealing Our Community鈥� powwow, it is 小蓝视频 held in the gymnasium at the Chief Gabriel Cote Education Complex at Cote First Nation.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淲e鈥檙e holding this powwow as a way of bringing positive vibes to the community to counteract losses and tragedies,鈥� said Robert Severight, a member of the organizing committee that includes Chief George Cote, Jonas Cote, Shelley Cote, Marion Badger, Joshua Badger, Dawn Tourangeau, Wilford Whitehawk Sr., Reggie Severight and Tyrone Keshane Sr.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淚t is 小蓝视频 planned as a nice, positive event that will bring the community together,鈥� Severight said. 鈥淚t will be a feel-good time with drums and dancing that helps with healing.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Severight, who estimates that there may be as many as 20 drum groups, four of which will be from the area, said that organizers are planning for about 300 dancers, of which possibly 80 will be area residents. Dancers and drummers are expected from all three of the Prairie Provinces.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 It will be a traditional powwow as opposed to a competitive powwow in that all participants will 鈥済o home with something,鈥� whereas in a competition only winners take home prizes, he explained.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 After the grand entry dancers will be on the floor according to categories that include junior boys; junior girls; teens boys and girls; men鈥檚; women鈥檚; senior golden age men and women, and tiny tots, a group of both boys and girls. Male groups include boys grass, chicken and traditional dancers, while female groups perform jingle, traditional and fancy shawl dances.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Plans are also to include a dance special, a mini-contest that will be an extra incentive for the dancers, he said.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Severight said that among special guests who are 小蓝视频 invited are: Chief Bobby Cameron of the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN), chiefs of Keeseekoose and The Key First Nations, district mayors and reeves, the RCMP and EMS representatives.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Howie Thomson of Carry the Kettle First Nation will be the emcee, while the arena director will be Glen Pelletier of Cowessess First Nation.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 There will be no admission charged and all the visiting dancers and drum groups will be treated to a supper feast.
\聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淓veryone is welcome to attend,鈥� Severight said. 鈥淲e hope to see a lot of Kamsack people there. It will be a great experience for them, 小蓝视频 among First Nations and enjoying the scent of sweetgrass and sage.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 People will see different dance styles and some championship dancers, he said.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淎 powwow is a time to come together for a positive event, a time to celebrate our youth and show them in a good way how to conduct themselves. The First Nation culture, if followed, is beautiful and with a positive healthy lifestyle will take one a long way.鈥�
