NORTH BATTLEFORD – The rhythmic beat of the powwow drum filled the air at the Access Communications Centre on the weekend.
It was all part of the 2025 Gold Eagle Casino Sakicawasihk Powwow event, held June 6 to 8 in North Battleford.
Gold Eagle Casino general manager Kelly Atcheynum said a good turnout was expected for the event.
"At least 10,000 spectators will be here [over the three days]," he said on Saturday. "The last one [powwow] was pre-COVID. The people from our community want to bring back our powwows. It's been a long time since we had our community powwow here. Now that everything has come back to normal, now that [the pandemic] is over, the powwow is one of the things we did annually, so we'd like to bring it back."
Atcheynum noted that powwow participants had come from as far as Wisconsin and Montana in the U.S. to take part.
"We have them from all over the States and Canada as well – drum groups as well as dancers," he said.
A total of 406 registered dancers took part.
"There's been a really positive response from the community," Atcheynum said. "We're really proud to host this event again. We'll try to do more of these events in the future."
Jingle dancer Nightsong Wapass attended the event from Thunderchild First Nation.
She competed in the Junior Women's Jingle dance competition.
This was Wapass's second powwow of the year, after recently taking part in the Loon Lake powwow.
"I love it," she said of joining in the powwow. "Every year I've been [doing it] since I was 10 months old."
Wapass said she has travelled as far as New Mexico for the Gathering of Nations to participate in powwows over the years.
Her whole family dances in powwows.
It took her about six months to create her regalia.
Wapass described the event as a time to come together and rejoice.
"I definitely hang out with my friends and go eat dinner after the powwow," she said.
Angelo Starr participated in the powwow from Little Pine First Nation.
"It's awesome," he said of the event. "The atmosphere is awesome. The drum groups are phenomenal right now. All First Nation people and different ethnicities come together to show our talents and our dancing."
Starr said he has spent his whole life creating his traditional regalia.
"Everything was honoured to me," he said. "The feathers were all gifted to me from different family members, adopted families and friends."
Starr noted he also enjoys meeting people and making new friends at powwows.
"You get to meet people from all over the country, all over North America. Some people are from the States, and some are from New Mexico," Starr said. "Some people are from Alaska. We all come together in celebration. We're here; we're now. That's the best part about being a First Nation, and bringing our culture into an urban setting."
