Cultural Events

Cultural Events

Each Indigenous group hosted a cultural event on a different evening of the convening. Through these cultural events the groups shared their cultural practices and provided entertainment for all present.

First Nations

First Nations from Canada performed a series of traditional dances for the assembled group. The dancers were dressed in their full regalia and changed costumes many times throughout their performance. They performed a Men’s Grass Dance, a Men’s Northern Traditional Dance, a Hoop Dance and a Chicken Dance. The dancers closed their show with an interactive Round Dance, inviting members of the audience to join the dance.

Michael Russell performed the Men’s Grass Dance.

Men’s Grass dance:

A story is told that the grass dance derives from early scouts seeking a site. The grass being high in new areas, the scouts would dance in a special way to flatten the grass and make it acceptable for a new camp or meeting site. At gatherings across Indian country, grass dancers are called upon to bless the grounds.

Mike travels across Canada, US, and abroad sharing his culture through song and dance. He takes part in the healing rituals of his people.

Bear “Joel” Babin performed the Men’s Northern Traditional Dance.

Men’s Northern Traditional Dance:

Recognized as the oldest form of dance in Native American culture. The dancers’ regalia represent the animals that the Creator put on Mother Earth. The movements are in time to the beat of the drum telling of the warriors’ battles, and the hunt.

Bear is an aspiring healer who seeks knowledge of the medicinal uses of plants and animals and conducts ceremonies.

Celina Cada-Matasawagon performed the Hoop Dance.

The Hoop Dance:

The Hoop dance is a story telling dance that illustrates the Creation story. During the dance, the dancer uses as many as 25 or more hoops to create formations of everyday life, the plants and animals. These formations that demonstrate that everything in interconnected.

Celina is a well-known dancer in Indian country and can be seen at various gatherings across the land and abroad. She’s received numerous awards for her work as a Teacher. She leads a healthy lifestyle taking part in the ceremonies of her people.

Dale Matasawagon performed the Men’s Chicken Dance.

Men’s Chicken Dance:

The chicken dance is a ceremonial dance. One story tells of how the chicken dancer mimics the courting rituals of the Prairie Chicken.

Dale belongs to the Chicken Dance Society and is responsible to carry on the teachings, the songs and dances.

United States Tribes

The United States tribes offered up entertainment to the assembled crowd through oral storytelling. Their storyteller shared a traditional tale with the audience, treating them to suspenseful narration and a winding plotline. The story included lessons about caring for the Earth and created space for reflective introspection among the listeners.

Inuit Peoples

The Inuit peoples presented an array of their cultural activities to the audience. They treated the audience to rounds of their traditional throat singing throughout the convening and to an extended rendition of this throat singing during their cultural performance. They also demonstrated some of their traditional games, showing different community members’ roles in those games.

Mexico

The Mexican delegation provided entertainment in the form of traditional Mexican dancing. The dance troupe performed in pairs and as a larger group. Robed in colourful dresses they demonstrated many dances, showcasing grace and fluency in the intricate movements required of each dance.

Click here to see pictures of the cultural events.