By Sarah Rae

Sakicawasihk powwow brings generations together

Jul 12, 2016 | 7:33 PM

For many families, participating in powwows is a tradition they want to pass on through the generations. The first day of the Sakicawasihk powwow in North Battleford saw dancers from toddlers to seniors competing, often members of the same family.

Michelle Whitecalf, from Sweetgrass First Nation, is competing under the same roof as her three children. She said her mother taught her to nurture her children’s interest in First Nations traditions.

“(My mother was) raised by her grandmother. She always taught her when your kids show an interest in something to do with our culture, you go above and beyond to nurture them, to keep them involved as much as you can,” she said.

Whitecalf’s whole family is involved in powwows. She competes in the ladies fancy shawl category, her partner Colin Stonechild sings with Wild Horse singers, and their three children, ages eight, four and one, all dance in different categories.

Whitecalf said she’s been dancing since she was four years old and it’s something she wouldn’t trade for the world. She said she and Stonechild never forced their children to take up powwow dancing, but encouraged them when they became interested.

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Stonechild said powwows encourage a good lifestyle for young people and keep them out of trouble.

“It’s a healthy lifestyle for them and gives them identity in who they are and where they come from and it grounds them to humility and all of our belief systems as First Nations indian people,” he said.

Ruter Cross, eight, was taught to dance by his father and grandfather and competed in the junior boys traditional category at Sakicawasihk. He and his grandfather came from Frog Lake, Alberta to compete.

His grandfather, Richard Cross, said the powwow community is like a big family, because it fosters friendships from a young age.

Ruter’s father is a dancer as well and Cross said he always wanted his family to carry on the tradition.

“I’d like them to know who they are and what they represent in life,” he said. “This is our culture and I think it’s important to know what they’re supposed to be doing instead of walking on the streets.”

The Sakicawasihk powwow continues July 13 and 14 at the North Battleford Exhibition Grounds, with a grand entry at 12 p.m. each day.

Sarah Rae is battlefordsNOW’s court and crime reporter. She can be reached at Sarah.Rae@jpbg.ca or tweet her @sarahjeanrae. Concerns regarding this story can be addressed to News Director Geoff Smith at 306-446-6397.