Students huge part of annual powwow's success
- Jeanelle Mandes | April 22, 2015
Cadmus Delorme is one of the hundreds of dancers that took part of this year’s First Nations University of Canada (FNUniv) 37th Annual Powwow held in Regina’s Brandt Centre.
The former FNUniv student completed his first year dancing powwow and hosted a men’s prairie chicken dance special on the first night of this year’s powwow as he was danced into the circle.
“This year will mark one year that I started dancing on the dance floor,” says Delorme. “It is kind of a protocol for every dancer to be welcomed into the powwow family,” he adds.
Delorme always wanted to dance but no one in his immediate family dances powwow so last March he told his wife, Kimberly, that he planned on dancing. With the help of one of his friends, he was able to get a men’s chicken regalia. Delorme recalls how excited he was to dance at last year’s FNUniv powwow, after receiving his powwow outfit, that he showed up early on the first day.
“I was sitting there watching other dancers putting on their regalia…I felt like a little kid I didn’t know how to dress up,” Delorme says laughing. A few of the other dancers helped Delorme get ready by adjusting his regalia before he danced in his first grand entry.
“A whole new Cadmus came out at the grand entry. I can’t believe I never danced before. That’s the kind of feeling I got,” Delorme says. “It’s a feeling you can’t explain, people are dancing with you in a spiritual way. You get so much energy, power and happiness to be Indigenous.”
Richard Missens, Chair of the FNUniv Powwow for the past 10 years, says the students are a huge part of the event.
“This is the time of the year that students are on their last papers, last exams or they’re convocating so this is a good time to powwow,” Missens says. “They are an important part of the celebration.”
The FNUniv powwow committee consists of faculty, staff and student that volunteer their time all year round to organize what is called the kick off to powwow season.
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The committee starts their planning eight months prior to accommodate close to 7000 people that show up every year. They do a lot of fundraising including taco sales, raffles, and steak nights but heavily rely on sponsorships such as Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority (SIGA), K+S Potash Canada and other organizations.
Many guest speakers are invited including Saskatchewan MLA’s, First Nation Chiefs and even AFN’s National Chief Perry Bellegarde to address and acknowledge the crowd.
“It feels great to be back home here in Treaty 4 territory so this is like coming home,” says Chief Bellegarde. “I remember years ago, it was a time to help support the students at SIFC [now FNUniv], it was a chance to lift each other up and to celebrate our culture and our language and I’m pleased it’s still going after 37 years,” he adds.
The powwow was started by the student body to encourage the continuation of their educational paths and to celebrate the culture and powwow ceremony.
Delorme, who is currently FNUniv’s student recruitment officer, says if you want to dance just do it.
“Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you are wanting to try it…I was so shy I didn’t know what to do,” Delorme says refers as being a powwow dancer. “I have a purpose and I just found it.”
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