A sacred tradition

Posted By Marc Zienkiewicz

Posted 2 months ago

There was plenty of traditional dancing to be seen last weekend at the Sagkeeng Family Treatment Centre.

Sagkeeng Family Treatment Centre held its first annual traditional powwow last weekend as part of National Aboriginal Addictions Awareness Week.

The event was held to celebrate and promote a drug and alcohol-free lifestyle.

"We're really happy with how it went," event organizer Lindey Courchene said. "We thought a powwow would be a good way to bring people together, and it definitely did that."

Courchene estimated as many as 300 spectators attended the powwow.

Traditionally, a powwow is simply a meeting of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people, involving traditional dancing and other types of ceremony.

Last weekend's event featured a community feast, craft tables, and host drums courtesy of Buffalo Red Thunder Singers and White Eagle Singers.

The Sagkeeng Family Treatment Centre is a family addictions treatment facility located in Sagkeeng First Nation. We offer a seven-week traditional and holistic treatment program in a residential setting for First Nation and Inuit families struggling to overcome drug and alcohol addictions.

The facility uses seven sacred teachings to facilitate the healing process — respect, truth, love, honesty, wisdom, humility, and courage.

Courchene said next year's powwow is already being planned, and will likely be held at a larger facility like the Sagkeeng arena.