A powwow is a celebration of culture and for Red Pheasant First Nation resident Elsie Wuttunee, it’s something she won’t take for granted.
“We came from oppression. There were times when our ceremonies were outlawed and we weren’t able to dance,” Wuttunee said at Saskatoon’s SaskTel Centre on Saturday.
“When I was very young I went to a residential school and they taught me to be ashamed of being First Nation,” she remembers.
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Now, Wuttunee dances in celebration of being a proud First Nations woman.
“The dancing has brought me and my family much healing,” Wuttunee said.
This year’s theme for the powwow is protecting, honouring and respecting women, who are revered for being the teachers and caregivers in indigenous society.
“We raise each other’s children. It’s like a community concept. A lot of people sometimes can’t understand that but we become teachers and we teach not only our own children but extended families as well,” Wuttunee said.
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Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) vice-chief Robert Merasty hoped the public will come to the event and learn about indigenous culture.
“We encourage people to come and be a part of this. This is us, sharing this with everybody else,” Merasty said.
Over 5,000 people are expected to attend over the weekend, watching some of North America’s most talented indigenous singers, dancers and drummers.
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