Thousands take part in Truth and Reconciliation Day powwow in Saskatoon

SaskTel Centre in Saskatoon was bathed in orange on National Truth and Reconciliation Day, to raise awareness of the inter-generational impact of residential schools, and to honour the survivors.

There were free “Every Child Matters” T-shirts, which the Saskatoon Tribal Council offered to anyone who wanted one. The centre-ice scoreboard showed pictures and explanations of a variety of Indigenous cultural practices, and an orange banner hung at one end of the arena read “Welcome to Treaty 6 Territory and the Homeland of the Métis.”

The powwow also featured a grand entry, with local chiefs, veterans, residential school survivors, government dignitaries and, of course, dozens of dancers.

Sherri Poitras (left) and son Lincoln Albert (right). (Lara Fominoff/650 CKOM)

Sherri Poitras’ two children were among the dancers. Her son Lincoln Albert was a chicken dancer.

“He’s eight years old, and he just started dancing again this year because he grew out of his outfit before.

“With his long hair we have weasels (tied to his braids); they’re part of the regalia. He has aprons, a cape, and his head roach. It’s synthetic hair and hair from porcupines,” she explained.

Poitras said she sewed his entire outfit herself, which took several days. She said she was proud that her children chose to take part in the ceremony as dancers.

“I’ve always taught them to be proud of who they are and to dance for people that weren’t able to participate in our cultural ceremonies in the past, and to just show their strength and their pride, and being able to share it at an event like this,” she said.

Poitras said she hopes non-Indigenous attendees take away a better appreciation of Indigenous culture and history, and how it affects Indigenous people today.

“Our culture is loving and accepting. We’re willing to share with everybody,” she said.

During a ceremony that took place after the grand entry, Saskatoon Mayor Charlie Clark received an eagle feather from Tribal Council Chief Mark Arcand. Earlier in the week, Saskatoon’s city council voted to adopt the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, becoming the first city in the province to do so.

“We can only do this as a community. No one person, no one leader, no one mayor, can do the work of truth and reconciliation. It can only be done through all of us stepping forward together,” Clark said.

Clark said the eagle feather will likely be prominently displayed somewhere at City Hall.