Cultural event brings family, tradition together

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This article was published 12/01/2015 (4104 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Since as far back as Irene Oakes can remember she has been dancing at powwows.

Standing in the Keystone Centre’s Manitoba Room dressed in traditional regalia, Oakes said Dakota Nation Winterfest is one of the premier powwows in North America.

“The top drums are here,” said Oakes, who is originally from Nekaneet Cree First Nation, which is in the southwest corner of Saskatchewan. “Dancers want to go to where the top drums are going to be and this is always one of the best, and that’s why we came.”

More traditional drums such as Young Bear and High Noon offer different challenges than more contemporary sounds from the drum of Midnight Express, she said.

Now living in Saskatoon, Oakes made the trip with her son, two daughters and her granddaughter, who all dance.

“It’s like being a hockey family, or rodeo family, only we do (powwow),” she said. “It’s something the whole family does and we encourage one another.”

Oakes said the key to powwow is being in top shape.

When she first started dancing powwows were often slower, but the beat and pace has increased over time.

Working at the University of Saskatchewan helps.

The family often uses one of the university’s buildings to stay in shape, running the 13 floors to the top and back down again.

But it’s not the only key to success.

Oakes said her daughter does most of the intricate bead work that she wears to catch judges’ attention.

“Another thing is to drink lots of water and get a lot of rest,” Oakes said. “I know some of the Canadian powwows last until the early morning hours so you have to be eating the right kinds of foods because you could sure eat a lot of grease if you wanted to, like fries and stuff, around here.”

The festival features an all-aboriginal hockey tournament, square dancing, talent show, volleyball tournament and moccasin game.

It is hosted by Sioux Valley Dakota Nation.

The event is also a lightning rod for First Nations relationships within Brandon.

During the festival, Brandon East NDP MLA Drew Cald-well stood with Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs Grand Chief Derek Nepinak, who was holding a “Challenge Racism” button for a photo on Twitter.

Although organizers didn’t have official attendance numbers as of Sunday, they said the three-day event was open to the general public and hope it acts to break down some of the barriers between cultures.

On the other side, some Brandonites believe the annual event brings chaos and crime to the city, but Brandon Police Service Staff Sgt. Mike Pelechaty said the numbers simply don’t reflect that.

“With any influx of that many people over the weekend, the more people there are the more potential for calls for service, but we haven’t experienced any major incidents in relation to this event for several years,” Pelechaty said.

BPS did provide two additional police officers to the Canad Inns, which requested the officers for the three-day festival.

Pelechaty said those officers are paid for by the requesting body, and that BPS makes no other staffing changes for Winterfest.

An employee at Canad Inns, speaking under a condition of anonymity, said this is the most “ruckus” weekend they have in the year.

“It’s the only event that we bring extra security in for,” she said. “Rooms are turned upside down and it makes for long Friday and Saturday nights.”

She said a big portion of the night is consumed trying to round up children, and while that’s not unique to large events, “it’s particularly bad for this one.”

One year, children jumping up and down in the elevator caused it to come off its tracks.

“It’s still our most challenging time, but it’s a lot better than it used to be,” she added.

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