There was a sense of renewed confidence and hope in the air as the Ermineskin Cree of the Confederacy of Treaty 6 Nations celebrated their powwow with dances and songs accompanied by drums for three days from Friday, July 1 to Sunday, July 3.
With the cooperation of the weather for much of the period, thousands of First Nations members attended the celebrations and and more than 500 participated in the dance competitions in several categories.
First Nations chiefs addressing the participants at the powwow spoke of a renewed relationship with the federal government following the latter’s adoption as policy of the UN Declaration on the Rights of the Indigenous Peoples. Speakers at the podium addressing the crowds said there was much room for hope for reviving the First Nations heritage and creating a sound basis for their culture to be handed down to future generations.
After the speeches, women and men danced in their colourful regalia to claim several monetary and other prizes to the rhythm of the drums surrounding the Bear Park powwow area. It was reported that in total 517 dancers, including those coming from Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario, had signed up for competitions.
The results of the dancing competitions in several categories and in drum singing contest were as follows:
Buckskin- Brian Mcdougal
Women’s Golden Age- Irene Oaks
Men’s Golden Age- Tobias Provost
Jr. Girls’ Fancy- Okimawiskwew Gadwa
Jr. Girls’ Jingle- Kaylie Nepoose
Jr. Girls’ Traditional- Mylee Yellowbird
Jr. Boys’ Fancy- Jaron Yazzie
Jr. Boys’ Grass- Noah Baptiste
Jr. Boys’ Traditional- Creed Big Mountain
Jr. Boys’ Chicken- Dre Roasting
Teen Girls’ Fancy-Oke-Twsha Roberts
Teen Girls’ Fancy- Rachel Lewis
Teen Girls’ Traditional-Faith Good Striker
Teen Boys’ Fancy- Jarron Gadwa
Teen Boys’ Grass-Muh Jutheen Roberts
Teen Boys’ Traditional- Tristan Carter
Teen Boys’ Prairie Chicken- Oshyn Rain
Women’s Fancy- Michelle Whitecalf
Women’s Jingle- Leah Omeasoo
Women’s Traditional- Emrey-Rose Assiniboine
Men’s Fancy- Patrick Mitsuing
Men’s Traditional- Teminah Greene
Men’s Prairie Chicken- Sheldon Scalplock
Men’s Grass- Joel Wood
Drum Singing contest winners:
1) Wild Horse
2) Blackfoot Confederacy
3) Iron Swing
4) Mountain Kree
5) Wild Rose