Families of all ages enjoying the powwow tradition Wednesday. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Angela Brown

Exciting future for community

Saulteaux First Nation enjoys Powwow celebration, first in almost 20 years

Aug 25, 2021 | 6:23 PM

Saulteaux First Nation is coming together for its three-day Treaty Day and Powwow celebrations that continue through to Aug. 26.

This is the first powwow for the community in almost 20 years.

Chief Kenny Moccasin said it is an exciting time for the First Nation, and everyone is glad to have the province’s COVID-19 restrictions lifted.

“As the province opened up, we decided that, as a community and the leadership, to host a big celebration,” he said. “It was a tough 14 months. We decided to all come together and celebrate.”

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Visitors are coming from throughout the region for the powwow, as well as from Alberta and the United States to join in the festivities.

It has been a busy week for Saulteaux. Moccasin said the First Nation held an inauguration ceremony on Aug. 24 for its council leadership. While its elections were held over a year ago, they postponed the official inauguration event due to the COVID-19 restrictions.

Shown are, left to right, Chief Kenny Moccasin, Chad Harris (Serafina Energy), Chris Bartole (Serafina Energy), and Saulteaux councillors Jordan Gopher, Rebecca Gopher, and Gabriel Moccasin. Serafina Energy Ltd. presented a cheque to Saulteaux First Nation. (Submitted photo/Kenny Moccasin)

Serafina Energy gift

At the start of the powwow event on Wednesday, Serafina Energy Limited visited to present a cheque as a contribution to the community for $100,000.

Moccasin said the First Nation will be able to use the support to host community events, sports days and other activities, and is grateful for the donation.

“We’ve created a good working relationship with Serafina Energy, and we will be announcing some future projects as we continue to move forward,” he said. “We’re pretty excited. We do a lot of fundraising, and it sure helps. We are always looking for additional revenue. We appreciate that.”

New housing

Saulteaux continues with its plans to build more housing to bring more people back to the community.

The First Nation received support from the federal government through the Rapid Housing Initiative announced this spring, for the development of a number of new homes.

Other initiatives are also planned ahead for the First Nation.

“There is lots of good stuff happening in the community of Saulteaux,” Moccasin said.

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Angela.Brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow