PAGC showcases culture at Gathering of Nations

Prince Albert Grand Council’s Gathering of Nations featured traditions across 12 First Nations and five treaty territories, such as art and craftsmanship skills, traditional food preparation demonstrations, and live music and dance.

The gathering featured powwow dancing, jigging competitions, Dene handgames tournaments, a horseshoe throwing competition, a talent show, a gospel show, and plenty of activities happening throughout the week in tipis and tents, like traditional processing of moose, food samples, a youth tent filled with child friendly activities, beading skills, elder and knowledge keeper storytelling, and birch bark crafts.

“It’s very important to come together, it’s about having fun and celebrating,” said PAGC Grand Chief Brian Hardlotte.”Celebrating your culture, visiting and dancing, you’re ending the summer off in a good way.”

Prince Albert Grand Council encompasses 12 First Nations communities, and each nation is classified under one of the following sectors: Swampy/Eastern Sector, Denesuline Sector, Prairie/Southern Sector, and Woodland Sector.

The Swampy Sector includes Cumberland House Cree Nation, Shoal Lake Cree Nation, and Red Earth Cree Nation, and the Denesuline Sector is made up of Black Lake Denesuline Nation, Hatchet Lake Denesuline Nation, and Fond du Lac Denesuline Nation, who brought their traditional food practices to the gathering. Moose were processed and cooked outdoors throughout the gathering to feed all visitors and communities, along with other foods such as bannock and fish. The Denesuline Sector also brought their traditional Dene handgames to the gathering.

Woodland Sector also brought their traditional food preparations, along with their craftsmanship and storytelling. Beading, birch bark biting, baskets, and other crafts were demonstrated throughout the week in designated tipis.

The Prairie Sector made up of Wahpeton Dakota Nation,James Smith Cree Nation and Sturgeon Lake First Nation showcased their powwow song and dance with a one-day traditional powwow.

“This is a chance to visit with each other and share what we have with Prince Albert as a whole and surrounding communities,” said Sheryl Kimbley, PAGC Special Events Coordinator. “This is Gathering of Nations, but we also want to gather all to come and see what PAGC is about.”

The four day celebration began on Tuesday at 1p.m. with a Grand Entry filled with dignitaries and special guests, followed by opening remarks from First Nations leadership, Mayor Powalinsky, and Mrs. Canada Universe, amongst other speakers.

Tuesday featured a one-day mini powwow, with intertribals open to anyone across cultures invited to dance, and different men’s and women’s dance categories. The Horseshoe Throwing Tournament began with the Women’s Doubles Division.

“The southern Dakota, (that’s) their culture, the powwow dance,” said Chief Hardlotte. “They had that, we had that but then in a way we lost it. It’s coming back and it’s to show the other nations and show off the culture. It’s very important that we do that education for our people.”

Wednesday featured the opening for registration at the handgames tent, and the Men’s Doubles Division competed in the Horseshoe Tournament. The evening was filled with talent, with a Two Stepping Contest, Open Stage for musicians, singers, dancers, and performers, followed by a Talent Show to end the night.

Thursday continued with the Horseshoe Tournament with the Co-ed Division, a Jigging Competition, and a Gospel Show with headliner Yvonne St. Germaine. The Gospel show began at 6:30p.m. featuring some PAGC gospel signers and back-up band Rez Boyz.

The gathering wrapped up on Friday with the finals for the Dene Handgames, and the retiring of the flags in the closing ceremony.

“It’s a way of understanding,” explained Kimbley. “When you understand each other as a part of the human family, that opens up doors and breaks down barriers of understanding who we are as a people and seeing some of the rich culture that exists. It’s important for PAGC to have that shared, but it’s just as important to see the different walks of life that are coming and educate themselves.”