Orange Shirt Day ceremonies begin with round dances in Melfort and Tisdale

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Bobbi Gray, director of programs and services for Cumberland College, said Tisdale staff and students would typically walk to Melfort for their round dance, although there was a growing interest to hold their own.

“We worked with our elders and brought it to fruition,” Gray said. “It’s super humbling to see the turnout. I don’t know if I can put it into words, but clearly we are all treaty people of Saskatchewan and recognize the experience of residential school survivors and move forward together with the spirit and intent of the treaties.”

Edward Stonestand of Chakastaypasin Cree Nation has performed the signing and drumming in connection the round dance for nearly five years. He said the ceremony is still special for him year after year.

Edward Stonestand of Chakastaypasin Cree Nation (right) signing and drumming for the round dance in Tisdale (Aaron Schulze/northeastNOW Staff).

“Everybody is coming out from everywhere all over Saskatchewan. People are joining hands to stop the racism and it’s just so beautiful to see as a First Nations. It truly is amazing,” Stonesand said.

Melfort’s third round dance took place on Friday, Sept. 27 at the track outside of Melfort and Unit Comprehensive Collegiate.

Just like Tisdale, nearly 600 people joined arms and participated in the dance. There were enough people to cover the entire track for the first time ever.

Riley Burns, an elder from James Smith First Nation, has attended every Melfort round dance. He said the growing of participants every year is good for the younger generation.

“My old man taught me anything I get involved in, try and bring people together,” Burns said. “We’re too separated all the time. Put our communities together and see how strong we are. The main thing is truth and reconciliation is here to forgive the people that have done you wrong. The more you do that, the better you feel about yourself; be proud of who you are.

“Canadian Indian people, some of them don’t know their own history of what goes on because it’s never taught in school, but now there’s an opportunity. I hope that by doing these kinds of things for these kids they can take it home and tell their parents something beautiful happened, that’s what I’m looking for. Wouldn’t it be a beautiful Canada?”

Riley Burns (centre) giving an opening prayer for the round dance in Melfort (Aaron Schulze/northeastNOW Staff).

The round dance in Melfort also marked a somber occasion. It was the ceremony without Evelyn Burns – a residential school survivor and Riley’s partner – who passed away in April 2019 at age 74.

Riley believes Evelyn would have been proud to see the track full of people in orange shirts holding hands and dancing.

“She was very proud even last year with how many people came out last year,” he said. “Me and her used to work on truth and reconciliation. The more we talked about it, it helped. When you’ve got things like this going, it’s a start.”

Cumberland College and Reconciliation Nipawin will host the final round dance in the area Monday, Sept. 30 at Central Park at 11:30 a.m.

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aaron.schulze@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @SchulzePANow