LAC LA BICHE - Several hundred people participated in the 20th annual Portage College Round Dance, which took place on March 7 at the regional college's main campus in Lac La Biche.
This year’s event, which ran from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., had an educational format designed to teach people about the components of the round dance and its importance in Indigenous culture.
The day's events began with the lighting of the traditional pipe and the pipe ceremony that included teachings by elders. The sacred ceremony was followed by a lunch of stew and bannock.
The round dances got underway in the Portage College gym after lunch, with participants of all ages and cultural backgrounds joining hands and moving in a circle to the beat of drummers who sat inside the circle.
Students and staff members from local schools also attended the event.
There was in interlude between dances whereby elders, a knowledge keeper, and representatives from Portage College spoke to the large crowd that had gathered for the cultural event. This was followed by a traditional smudging ceremony before the dances resumed.
The annual Round Dance pays tribute to the heritage of the region's First Peoples and the current Indigenous students and college supporters. The ceremony serves as an education and awareness event for community members to understand the past, present and future of Indigenous culture.
