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Enoch Cree Nation powwow sees competitors dancing for days

Click to play video: 'Powwow competition huge draw to Enoch Cree Nation'
Powwow competition huge draw to Enoch Cree Nation
This weekend is the annual Enoch Cree Nation powwow celebration. It's evolved into a days-long competition. Morgan Black has more about its history and significance. – Jul 7, 2023

This weekend is the annual Enoch Cree Nation powwow celebration.

It’s evolved into a days-long competition where people sign up at a booth and dance for three days. But it wasn’t always that way.

“Back in the day, before the powwow had the competition … People would come from all over and pitch up teepees,” said band councillor Kyle Peacock. “They would get fed rations from the council and they would dance and get paid daily.”

The July 7-9 event near Edmonton is expected to attract up to 1,000 competitors from all across North America.

“It’s a huge event,” Peacock said. “It’s just growing bigger and bigger every year.”

Click to play video: 'Samson Cree First Nation hosts ‘mini’ powwow to mark National Indigenous Peoples Day'
Samson Cree First Nation hosts ‘mini’ powwow to mark National Indigenous Peoples Day

An additional draw? The drumming competition comes with a cash prize.

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“It’s lucrative to be a part of a drum group,” Peacock explained.

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“The drum represents the heartbeat of our people and Mother Earth,” he added. “Sharing the beauty of our culture and the spirit of our nation … it’s very important to our people.”

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Video of 2-year-old boy dancing at Alberta powwow goes viral

The Enoch powwow is free to attend and Peacock is encouraging everyone to come out.

Enoch Cree First Nation Powwow July 7-9, 2023. Credit: Facebook/Enoch Cree

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