Indigenous culture and tradition celebrated at Whoop-Up Days powwow

By Lethbridge Herald on August 21, 2024.

Dancers take part in the grand entry on the first day of the Siksikaitsitapi Powwow on Wednesday afternoon at the Agri-food Hub during Whoop-Up Days at the Lethbridge & District Exhibition. Herald photo by Alexandra Noad

Alexandra Noad – LETHBRIDGE HERALD – Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Agri-food Hub was flooded with the traditional sound of Blackfoot drums and singing along with the sight of colourful regalia as the third annual Siksikaitsitapi Powwow kicked off its first day on Wednesday afternoon.

Powwows are ceremonious celebrations for Indigenous people to sing and dance while being unified in their culture.

The Siksikaitsitapi Powwow attracts top competitors of dancers from across western Canada and the United States, with cash payouts totalling more than $65,000.

The afternoon kicked off with the grand entry, which was led by Elders, as well as other dignitaries, which included Mayor Blaine Hyggen, Alberta NDP leader Naheed Nenshi and Lethbridge East MLA Nathan Neudorf.

The dignitaries were followed by participants of the powwow dressed in full regalia. The participants danced to the music and it was an incredible sight to see the different styles of dancing.

For one song the dancing stopped to symbolize the period when Indigenous ceremonies, including powwows, was banned by the Indian Act in 1876 which was amended several times until eventually the Indigenous people were not allowed to practice any aspect of their culture.

After the conclusion of the song, the dancing began again as a symbol of the Indigenous people’s resilience to assimilation.

In his welcoming address Nenshi mentioned how participating and observing powwows as non-Indigenous people is a great step forward in truth and reconciliation.

“In these coulees and along this river where people have been gathering since time immemorial and when we gather in powwow here today, we gather in celebration of the resilience of Indigenous people of this land who have been here forever and will be here forever. As we recommit ourselves as non-Indigenous people, in celebration like this powwow to turning reconciliation into reconcili-action,” said Nenshi.

Hyggen says the powwow is one of the most exciting events Whoop-Up Days has to offer.

“This is one of the most exciting things to come to each and every year,” said Hyggen.

The powwow will continue today with another grand entry kicking off at 1 p.m. at the Agri-food Hub.

More information on the powwow or other events happening during Whoop-Up Days can be found at http://www.whoopupdays.ca

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