WATCH: ‘I’m proud of my heritage’: Generations gather at Flying Dust First Nation powwow

“Praying for the people, for healing… that’s what I’m doing while I’m dancing,” he said.

Through each step in the circle and every beat of the drum, Sanderson prays that young people can find themselves amid the chaos of the world.

(Kenneth Cheung/meadowlakeNOW)

Darwin Atcheynum of Sweetgrass First Nation (Kenneth Cheung/meadowlakeNOW)

(Kenneth Cheung/meadowlakeNOW)

“When they find themselves, they find purpose, and when they find purpose, they will be able to quit doing drugs and alcohol and get back into who they are,” Sanderson said.

“Not like a tree without roots.”

(Kenneth Cheung/meadowlakeNOW)

(Kenneth Cheung/meadowlakeNOW staff)

(Kenneth Cheung/meadowlakeNOW)

The three-day celebration featured grand entries, drum contests, daily payouts for dancers, and the sound of songs carrying into the night.

For Darwin Atcheynum of Sweetgrass First Nation, the powwow is part of a lifetime journey. He has been dancing for about 40 years and said it remains both a personal practice and a way of guiding youth.

“To teach the young people to be proud of who they are and go out and show what you can do,” he said.

“I’m proud of my heritage.”

Powwow, he added, is about keeping kids away from “the negative stuff” and showing them the power of prayer and respect for elders.

(Kenneth Cheung/meadowlakeNOW)

Both dancers share the belief that powwow is for everyone. Atcheynum has seen people in their fifties and sixties step into the circle for the first time.

“It doesn’t matter how old you are, you’re never too old to start,” he said.

“When I see kids dancing, it makes me happy. They’re following the path it should be.”

At Flying Dust, those messages rang through the songs and carried into the night, the tribal circle alive with resilience, belonging and prayer.

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Kenneth.Cheung@pattisonmedia.com

by Kenneth Cheung

WATCH: ‘I’m proud of my heritage’: Generations gather at Flying Dust First Nation powwow

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