BATC powwow at Sweetgrass brings nations together

The BATC event aims to bring together the community, residential school survivors and families of the students that never returned from residential schools.

Karen Whitecalf, project manager with Acâhkos Awâsisak-Star Children Project, and Battlefords Agency Tribal Chiefs Inc. (BATC) for the Indian Residential School (IRS) Searches for Delmas and Battleford Industrial School, said BATC hopes to continue the tradition to hold a powwow every year.

“It was to reconnect with our culture, and to invite the community of Sweetgrass and the surrounding First Nations to come and join us with our cultural celebration,” she said.

Whitecalf said at one time it was illegal to have a powwow celebration such as this. So BATC wants to promote the powwow tradition to help it thrive and grow.

An “Initiation Special” was held Tuesday to welcome those into the powwow circle who haven’t formally taken part in the ceremony before.

The BATC IRS team/Acâhkos Awâsisak also hosted an Initiation Special at the powwow. The Star Children Project members danced on behalf of the children who did not make it home from residential schools.

“It was important for us to do that initiation because the kids that went to Delmas Residential School and the Battleford Industrial School never had a chance to participate in powwows,” Whitecalf said. “They never got a chance to be initiated into the powwow circle. Yesterday [Tuesday] we danced in the names of the children that died at the residential schools.”

Family members were also invited to be initiated as part of the historic occasion.

BATC said in a statement the Delmas Residential School and the Battleford Industrial School operated in the area for 78 years in total. The residential school era impacted the students, as well as the parents of the children who attended these schools, and the generations that followed.

“The loss of our language and culture was the result of these schools. At BATC we are committed to revitalizing what was lost, and what was stolen,” the organization said. “In the next year, the Star Children Project will be assisting each First Nation of BATC to identify what will be needed in their community to bring back our culture and language.”

Buffalo Treaty

Another important occasion, during this week’s powwow First Nation leaders each stepped forward to sign what is known as the Buffalo Treaty in a special ceremony. Many members of the community also participated.

Karen Whitecalf said historically First Nation people depended on the buffalo to live. So when the buffalo were gone, that impacted First Nations directly.

“When they eradicated the buffalo they were trying to eradicate the First Nations people,” she said. “But we survived. We’re still here. So we thought it would be important to bring back the buffalos. This is why across Canada this treaty is being signed to bring back the buffalo into our First Nations.”

Sweetgrass First Nation Chief Lorie Whitecalf also recognized the great significance of the Buffalo Treaty to First Nations people and took part in the signing ceremony.

“Our people utilized the buffalo entirely, every part of the buffalo was used,” she said. “[First Nations] want to bring those teachings back – not just about using the buffalo, but our traditional way of life… This treaty is bringing all the nations together to sign and work collectively, to go forward with education, economics and health.”

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Angela.Brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW

by Angela Brown

BATC powwow at Sweetgrass brings nations together

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