Participants listen to speakers at the Red Pheasant Cree Nation Powwow on Weds., July. 3. (Julia Lovett-Squires/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Julia Lovett-Squires

RPCN Powwow

Red Pheasant Cree Nation powwow: a time to heal and celebrate

Jul 4, 2024 | 12:05 PM

The intertribal dance was awash with spirit, power and passion and for 10-year-old Cohen Balkwill it was a chance to come alive through the power of movement – though he has only one leg.

“I’ve been in it since the age of two or three and I used to dance grass, but I dance fancy now,” he said.

The young dancer, who practices dance every morning, explained ever since he was young, he was drawn to the style and his favourite move is the bunny hop.

Cohen Balkwill, 10, dances fancy during the intertribals at the Red Pheasant Cree Nation Powwow on Weds., July. 3. (Julia Lovett-Squires/battlefordsNOW Staff)

“I love the colourful colours,” he said.

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Though he must use canes to get around, when he was performing, he was free of the walking aids and proved he was just as capable as anyone else dancing.

“I come here every year.”

It was under that canopy of blue sky and fluffy clouds, that the young boy and the rest of the performers and community’s energy at the George Benson Memorial Powwow Grounds on Red Pheasant Cree Nation was running high.

The three-day long gathering brought people from all over the continent back to their home community to reconnect, heal and take part in celebrations.

A dancer during the Grand Entry at the Red Pheasant Cree Nation Powwow on Weds., July. 3. (Julia Lovett-Squires/battlefordsNOW Staff)

“It’s a lot of work getting a big ceremony like this together,’ said Councillor Lux Benson to the attendees on Weds, July. 2.

“It takes a lot of teamwork, lot of moving around, getting things done.”

Speaking to the crowd, he thanked the singers and their “Good songs” and noted without them, there couldn’t be a powwow.

“They’re talking to the creator,” he said in part.

Young dancers during the intertribals at the Red Pheasant Cree Nation Powwow on Weds., July. 3. (Julia Lovett-Squires/battlefordsNOW Staff)

“That’s why it’s a healing for us.”

Falynn Baptiste explained it was a chance to be home.

“This is where I grew up, I’m proud to be First Nation, I’m proud to bring my daughter, to have that continuance ties to our cultural ways of life and it’s a great place just to see family and…relations,” she said.

Tommy Draper came to the Red Pheasant Cree Nation Powwow from the Navajo Nation as he’s done since the 1970s. (Julia Lovett-Squires/battlefordsNOW Staff)

Amid the bustling festive atmosphere, Tommy Draper, of the Navajo Nation made the drive up from New Mexico to take part in the powwow – one he’s taken since the 1970s.

“I used to come up this way with my kids, they’re all fancy dancers and there were hardly any fancy dancers when I used to come up this way,” he said.

Draper explained how times have changed, and his family have now spread out across the United States. Coming to the powwow, he said he saw more young people getting involved and was also enjoying the reconnection with old and new friends. At 75, he said the young people are now calling him ‘Mooshum’- Grandfather.

“You can’t say ‘No,’ you know, they like to talk to somebody, ‘cause they don’t have no mooshum, or kookum.”

A young dancer during the intertribals at the Red Pheasant Cree Nation Powwow on Weds., July. 3. (Julia Lovett-Squires/battlefordsNOW Staff)

Meanwhile, Ryan Bugler who danced on the first day was relaxing and enjoying the celebrations.

“To me it means everything,” he said.

“It’s good just to be home. I was away working from home for many years, probably about four or five years,” he added noting he just recently took a role with the nation again.

Dancers of all styles take to the grounds during the intertribals at the Red Pheasant Cree Nation Powwow on Weds., July. 3. (Julia Lovett-Squires/battlefordsNOW Staff)

Being able to have the celebrations outside was also a healing experience.

“It’s a good way to ground yourself,” he said.

“That’s what it’s about, the weather, the sun and just catching the fresh air.”

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julia.lovettsquires@pattisonmedia.com

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