SADDLE LAKE - Saddle Lake Cree Nation’s annual powwow brought thousands of people together from June 20 to 22, bringing dancers, families, and spectators from across Canada and the United States to the Saddle Lake powwow arbour.
"Our season for powwows throughout the U.S. and Canada in the summertime. Our Saddle Lake powwow is most well known throughout Indian country for being the one that kickstarts our season," says Fawn Wood, who sits on the Saddle Lake Pow Wow committee.
The powwow is a celebration of the Indigenous identity and community.
"It's really about bringing everybody together," says Wood.
Over 300 dancers from different First Nations participated during the annual powwow, representing their respective tribes through their distinct regalia.
"You could often tell where a person’s from or how far they've come just by looking at what they're wearing,” Wood says. “Different designs and colours represent different tribes and the way we carry ourselves."
More young people are also participating in the annual powwow, whether through dance, singing, or simply wearing a ribbon skirt, says Wood.
"We see a really big surge in all of our young people [who] take pride coming to [powwows] . . . so that's a really cool thing to see."
Wood then thanked all visitors from near and far, and encourages more of the public to come out to the powwow in the future, especially communities close to Saddle Lake and throughout the Lakeland region. "It's open to the anybody, Indigenous and non-indigenous alike," she says.
Saddle Lake's powwow is akin to how other communities hold festivals. "This is our Indigenous community way of inviting people just to come and be with us," she explains.
It is also a good way to be immersed in First Nations culture.
"I just want to extend an invite this year, next year, and all the years to come - feel free to come on up," says Wood.
