SADDLE LAKE – Dancers danced to the thrums of the drums and the echoes of songs and music at the Traditional School Pow-wow on Sept. 28 in Saddle Lake. The theme of the pow-wow, according to organizers, was “Honouring our children.”
Students from multiple local school in the St. Paul region participated in the powwow.
Saddle Lake’s leaders, who were also among the organizers of the event, explained that among the aims of the Traditional School Pow-wow was inclusion. It was also an opportunity for Indigenous and non-Indigenous students and communities to learn and have fun with one another.
Debra Cardinal, Superintendent of Schools, encourages more participation from schools in the St. Paul region in the future. There are about 1,000 students who come from Saddle Lake, and “600 students (are) off-reserve and around 400 students (are) on-reserve.”
“I would like to see all of our kids coming out and enjoying the day,” said Debra. She also added that many students who came to participate in the powwow wanted to dance but hesitated because they did not have regalia.
“There’s so many that just have the orange shirts who want to go out there and dance... you can see the spirit in them that they want to be a part of this,” said Debra. She encouraged students to participate in the future, even if they don’t have regalia.
Dale Steinhauer, principal at Kihew Asinîy Education Centre, re-affirmed that powwow “doesn’t exclude anybody.” Steinhauer said powwows also act as educational opportunities to expose non-Indigenous youths and visitors to Indigenous culture, explaining one of the reasons why they invited local schools to come and join the powwow.
“If we don’t provide those experiences [of Indigenous culture,] there is the ignorance that continues, then out of ignorance comes fear – racism comes from there,” said Dale, explaining that learning about each other’s culture leads to more understanding and acceptance.
Vera Cardinal, principal at Onchaminahos School, agreed with both Dale and Debra.
“We are here gathering as a community... to come and share our ceremony,” said Vera. She added the powwow is about dancing and to “hear the drums, to have fun, and make new friends.”
“Like you heard on the speeches today, ‘Come and make new friends, come and have fun with us, come and dance with us, come and hear the songs and the drumbeats – come and join us’,” said Vera, explaining the message of one of the speakers earlier in the day.
Mary Jane Cardinal, a Saddle Lake band council member, stated that creating unity “across Turtle Island” is important right now, and “it shouldn’t matter what color your skin – we’re all one.” Mary Jane explained Turtle Island, in First Nations culture, refers to North America.
Mary Jane also said the importance of having schools come to participate in Indigenous ceremonies and events like powwows is “to ensure that our culture is still connected – because our culture believes in a circle.” She also likened inviting schools to the powwow as a symbol of unity.
Truth and Reconciliation
Steinhauer said the powwow is also about honouring Truth and Reconciliation. “We’re not only honouring the children who you see here today,” but also the children found buried across Canada as a result of the residential school system.
Included among the 94 recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action, is learning the truth and history of residential schools. Learning the truth about the Canadian narrative is not only meant for Indigenous students and youth to learn, but also for non-Indigenous students and youth, according to Steinhauer.
Pauline Hunter, another Saddle Lake band council member, said the impact of the residential school system is still rampant to this day. Hunter said First Nation people are currently dealing with a lot of hardship, including “disconnection from ourselves, our families, our land, our ceremonies, our language, and from who we are.”
She said the steps needed to be taken should “start with our young ones – to teach them how to survive.” Hunter said educating Indigenous youths is not only about learning English, mathematics, literature, or academia but traditional knowledge too.
Hunter added that the children who never made it out of residential schools, who were “buried, missing, and murdered” will never be forgotten.
