Powwow shares culture and builds relationships

By Lethbridge Herald on September 27, 2024.

Elder Christina Fox, at left, dances among those in attendance during a reconciliation week powwow event on Thursday afternoon at the Nord-Bridge Seniors Centre. Herald photo by Alejandra Pulido-Guzman

Alejandra Pulido-Guzman – LETHBRIDGE HERALD – apulido@lethbridgeherald.com

Nord-Bridge Seniors Centre hosted a powwow Thursday where dozens gathered to take in traditional dancing and drumming while celebrating Blackfoot culture. 

The Honouring Traditions and Reconciliation Society is working with Recovery Alberta with an Indigenous Wellness Core grant intended to create recovery supports and bring Indigenous perspective and cultural supports for Indigenous people. Society president Theron Black said part of that involves participating in community events. 

“We just started this just a little bit over a year ago with our committee, we do a lot of different work within the community about reconciliation,” said Black. 

He said they honour their traditions while also helping those most vulnerable within the city through some Alberta Health Services programs. 

“We have other programs that we do in the community such as the powwow, as we like to give that back to the community, build relationships and promote our culture, our dancing and other different things that we have,” said Black. 

He said usually when he takes part of powwow demonstrations at various events, the crowd is usually fairly small, so he was very happy with the turnout at Nord-Bridge. 

“I came here and was surprised that it looks like it was a full room, so grateful to see that,” said Black.

He said it was great to see many seniors in attendance as in the Blackfoot culture their elders are held within high regards. 

One of those Elders is Christina Fox (Iitssaanoowa – Vision Beyond), who took part in the event. She provided those in attendance with a blessing song, as well as few dances. 

“I was so excited that we were coming here, our elders to me are our grandparents of all and we need to take care of them. We need to let them know they’re thought of, they’re loved and mostly they are appreciated for all that they did in their journey taking care of families and loved ones,” said Fox. 

She said grandparents need to be visited, bring them a smile by bringing up good memories, they need to be loved, respected and taken care of.  And she added that bringing a powwow to them was a good opportunity to do just that. 

During the event the floor was opened to those in attendance and dozens gathered in a circle, held hands and danced together along with the powwow dancers and Elder Fox. 

“We have this beautiful feeling to be involved in the circle because no one is left out of the circle, and the round dance is about connection, about getting to know each other, we are all neighbours. We ought to start getting to know each other and share our gifts and talents,” said Fox. 

For those wanting to experience Blackfoot culture, Black said they will be having a powwow at the Agri-food Hub and Trade Centre on Saturday and Sunday, with a grand entry at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday.

“That’s when all the dancers are on the dance floor and everybody is more than welcome to be there. Sunday we only have one grand entry and we will run all different categories,” said Black. 

He said they believe a powwow is the best way to finish what for some might be a very stressful and emotional week from talking about reconciliation, residential schools, missing and murdered women, among other things that hinder community members to help themselves. 

“So let’s learn all week, feel all the emotions that come from that and we can end with the powwow in a good way,” said Black.