Pandemic forces cancellation of Westman powwows

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 28/05/2020 (2168 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The rhythmic beat of powwow drums will not sound across southwestern Manitoba this summer, as COVID-19 restrictions prohibit people from travelling and gathering in large groups.

The decision to cancel the Dakota Oyate Wacipi was heartbreaking, said Sioux Valley Dakota Nation’s Michelle Rosmus, one of 20 powwow committee members.

Everyone on the committee agreed cancelling was the right thing to do, for the safety of the elders and children. Leadership made the final call, and they agreed with the committee.

“It’s about coming together, to unite. The drum is the heartbeat,” Rosmus said about the importance of the annual summer powwow at Sioux Valley.

“When the elders sit around, or anybody, surrounded by a drum, it gives them that spiritual connection to our grandfathers, our ancestors. It uplifts you, because you can literally feel it in your heart, the drumbeat. It’s pretty spectacular.”

Rosmus added the powwow is also an occasion for healing.

“For our elders, because when the young ones dance, it uplifts them. I know my mother really enjoyed … But, anybody — it’s just very heartwarming.”

Visiting, traditional foods, dancing and regalia, and much laughter around the drums and the powwow arbour is a longstanding tradition for Sioux Valley. Rosmus said it’s likely one of the founding and longest running in the area. Hundreds come from all over – from the United States, because that’s where the Dakota hail from long before national borders came to be, as well as neighbouring provinces.

The border between Canada and the United States remains closed, and there are travel restrictions between provinces.

Rosmus draws attention to what happened northeast of Saskatoon at the Beardy’s and Okemasis’ Cree Nation in mid-May.

See ‘Doing’ ­— Page A2

 

A public health order in Saskatchewan limited gatherings to 10 people. However, an elder received a vision that it was important to hold the sacred Sun Dance ceremony to support people during COVID-19 and to empower scientists and researchers to find a cure, according to a Canadian Press story.

Armed RCMP officers were dispatched to break up the sacred ceremony involving approximately 35 people.

“They were doing their best trying to maintain the guidelines of COVID-19. They were in no way breaking those. They were keeping their distance. But still here was that break-up. This situation (COVID-19) in our culture … This is a time when they (ceremonies) are needed,” Rosmus said.

“If you’re praying to the Creator, he’s also guiding you and protecting you.”

In Manitoba, outdoor gatherings are currently limited to 50 people.

“Everywhere they’re putting off the powwows. We’re just kind of following in those footsteps, taking precautions and doing what’s best for the community,” Rosmus said.

At Rolling River First Nation, the summer powwow is similarly cancelled.

“Though if things do rebound and turn around, we might have the powwow during the winter months,” said band manager Elvin Huntinghawk.

“We could reschedule. Our community is also disappointed, but they realize the importance of being safe.”

As with Sioux Valley, Rolling River’s powwow is attended by people from several provinces.

“On average, we have 200 to 250 dancers that come in,” Huntinghawk said.

He added the Municipality of Erickson is very supportive of the powwow, by donating drinking water, for example.

At Canupawakpa Dakota First Nation, powwows have been an occasional event rather than annual.

There won’t be one in 2020, said band manager Sheree Blacksmith.

She said there were talks about people in the community heading an effort this summer, but those talks stopped when COVID-19 became a reality. Everybody in there is observing health and safety protocols, she said.

Sioux Valley’s Rosmus said the cancellation means there will be more time to prepare for July 2021. There is talk of possibly holding a small community-only powwow but, for now, that’s just talk, with a wait-and-see approach being employed.

» mletourneau@brandonsun.com

» Michele LeTourneau covers Indigenous matters for The Brandon Sun under the Local Journalism Initiative, a federally funded program that supports the creation of original civic journalism.