St. Albert will be awash in royalty this weekend as the lieutenant-governor and three just-crowned princesses grace the annual Poundmaker’s powwow.
Crews and clients were pounding stakes and building bleachers this week at the Poundmaker’s Treatment Centre in preparation for this weekend’s annual powwow. About 5,000 people are expected to attend, says organizer Alvina Lake, along with hundreds of aboriginal dancers competing for cash prizes.
The powwow is one of three events Poundmaker’s has planned this year to celebrate Métis, First Nation and Inuit traditions, says Don Langford, chair of the board at Poundmaker’s. In addition to dancers, the free event will also feature exhibits of aboriginal crafts and organizations from the Edmonton region.
Lt.-Gov. Donald Ethell will kick off the three-day event at this Friday’s grand entry at the invitation of Poundmaker’s board.
It’s a great honour, Lake says. “He didn’t have to think about it. He just accepted.”
Ethell will be presented with an eagle feather and star blanket as thanks, both symbols of high esteem to aboriginals. The star blanket features a large, multicoloured eight-pointed star.
The theme of this year’s event is empowering spirit and honouring women, Lake says. “Women are a very important part of the family unit,” she says, responsible for teaching children values and self-respect. This is reflected in the women’s traditional dance, she notes: a slow, steady affair where the dancer stands tall and treads lightly on the earth.
The powwow is holding its first-ever princess pageant Saturday to celebrate this theme. Registered dancers aged two to 17 will take part in a public speaking and dance competition for the right to wear one of three beaded crowns.
Powwow princesses act as role models for young women, says Nechi CEO Josie Auger, and help dispel myths about aboriginals. “It’s important to give them stepping stones towards building self-esteem and confidence.”
The princesses will be expected to live and promote healthy, addictions-free lives and to represent Poundmaker’s and Nechi at events across the region.
Also crowned at the event will be provincial health minister Gene Zwozdesky. On Sunday, the Nechi Institute will name him as its honorary patron, presenting him with a headdress and a Cree name.
Zwozdesky has touched the lives of many aboriginals through his cabinet posts as minister of education, aboriginal relations and health, Auger says. “Bestowing this headdress upon him recognizes the impact he has as a leader on First Nations people.”
Last year’s event got a bit rained out, Langford says, but still drew about 3,000 people. “It wasn’t too comfortable, but we moved as many people into the gym as we could.”
There’s no such thing as an anti-rain dance, he notes, but they’ve asked the Creator for better weather this year. Lake is confident this year’s powwow will be better than ever — three eagles circled over the powwow grounds over the weekend, screaming all the while. “It’s a good sign. We’re getting a blessing.”
The powwow runs all day from July 16 to 18 at Poundmaker’s Lodge on Poundmaker Road. The grand entry is at 7 p.m. Friday and at 1 and 7 p.m. over the weekend. No drugs or alcohol are allowed on the powwow grounds. For details, call Lake at 780-458-1884.
