Dancers of all ages gathered at James Smith Cree Nation for the annual Fort a la Corne Traditional Powwow on Friday. The event continues through Sunday. (Cam Lee/northeastNOW)

By Cam Lee

Powwow

Fort a la Corne Traditional Powwow focuses on community, healing

Sep 7, 2024 | 11:32 AM

An event steeped in tradition and focused on healing continues through the weekend.

The Fort a la Corne Annual Traditional Powwow started Friday and takes place through Sunday at James Smith Cree Nation.

The event started with pipe and flag ceremonies on Friday morning. The evening featured a drum roll call with several drum groups from across the province, and the first grand. Traditional food and other booths are also featured at the powwow site throughout the weekend.

Housing Director Denise Whitehead told northeastNOW powwow brings everyone together.

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“It puts us in touch with Mother Earth and our traditions,” explained Whitehead. “The beat of the drum, it’s the heartbeat of Mother Earth and it brings so much healing and so much peace, and for everything that we’ve been through in the past while, that drumbeat is so welcome and so needed.”

Drum groups from across Saskatchewan are taking part in the weekend event. (Cam Lee/northeastNOW)

Whitehead said it’s great to see so many smiles, and to welcome family from all over that they haven’t seen for some time. The event is also a great way for people unfamiliar with the traditions to learn more, with Whitehead saying explanations are announced during the powwow so people new to the event can follow along.

(Cam Lee/northeastNOW)

Justice Director Eddie Head told northeastNOW that the traditional powwow is extremely important.

“It brings our community together, but it also brings other First Nations together as well to bring their knowledge to us,” said Head. “Bringing them together is sharing ideas, sharing thoughts, and just seeing our traditional way when it comes to powwow and different events they have within our powwow.”

Head said it’s important to carry on the tradition of the powwow and the various events on the weekend. He added anyone attending the event can also expect to find traditional foods and handicrafts along with different dances and various languages from about sixteen different drum groups.

The powwow is also about celebration, according to Head.

“We welcome the people that have never seen a powwow,” Head said. “They are always welcome to come try our food, come see the dancers, come enjoy our people.” Head added there are teepees set up along with flag and pipe ceremonies, and newcomers can participate if they want.

“Those are things we would like the general public to understand is our traditional way of life.”

Traditional blankets were given to various members of the RCMP community for their efforts in the JSCN and Weldon tragedies two years ago. (Cam Lee/northeastNOW)

Friday evening also featured a special ceremony honouring the efforts of the RCMP for their efforts during the tragic mass killing in 2022 that claimed the lives of 11 people.

Const. Heidi Marshall fought back tears after being presented with a traditional blanket for her efforts in apprehending the man responsible for the tragedy in Sept. 2022. (Cam Lee/northeastNOW)

Several members of the RCMP family were given traditional blankets, including Const. Heidi Marshall for her role in arresting the man responsible for the attacks.

JSCN Justice Director Eddie Head hugs Const. Heidi Marshall after she received her gift of a traditional blanket. (Cam Lee/northeastNOW)

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Cam.lee@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @northeastNOW_SK