The Wakamow Aboriginal Community Association (WACA) is holding its eighth annual powwow this weekend and has also scheduled many activities to celebrate First Nations culture.
“We have some great things coming up,” said Lori Deets, chair of WACA.
The first event WACA is hosting is on Friday, June 14 at 5 p.m. in the newly renamed Tatawaw Park — formerly the Wild Animal Park — with a pipe ceremony and feast.
While it’s fantastic that a powwow is being held here, this is not the first time such an activity has been hosted in the park since this is the original site, Deets explained. It has been 25 years since a powwow was last held in the Wild Animal Park/Tatawaw Park. This event was previously held at another location overlooking the valley.
“But what the real importance of it is, is the name and the unveiling of the name and the new sign,” she continued. Tatawaw Park means “there is room for everyone, welcome.” No Indigenous group ever claimed ownership to this piece of land; it was known for peace and being welcoming of others.
“We’re not doing anything new. We’re returning it to the original state,” she added.
Saskatchewan historian James Daschuk and high school student Kayleigh Olson will give tours of the park and talk about the Lakota history contained therein on June 14. Deets noted WACA is still deciding on times, but tentatively, the tours are set for 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. Deets suggests watching the WACA Facebook page for more information.
Saturday, June 15 is when most activities kick off. The unveiling of a new sign for Tatawaw Park will take place at 10 a.m. Registration for the powwow opens at 11 a.m., followed by the grand entry at 12 p.m. and again at 6 p.m. There is a jingle dress special happening at both times, while all drum groups are encouraged to participate. Everyone is invited to attend the sign unveiling and the powwow.
The ceremony for the sign unveiling won’t be long, but it will be significant, Deets said. There will be a drum group that will offer an honour song, followed by an elder offering a prayer.
The unveiling, and re-dedication, of a refurbished headstone for Tasinaskawin Brule (White Shawl Woman) at the old Moose Jaw Cemetery happens on Sunday, June 16 at 10 a.m. Brule was the wife of Black Bull, who fled north to Canada following the Battle of Little Bighorn — also known as Custer’s Last Stand — from June 25 to 26, 1876. She is the only Indigenous person buried in the cemetery.
Lakota historian Ron Papandrea, the man who refurbished the headstone, will be in attendance, along with the relatives of Black Bull’s wife. They will be coming from the United States.
Papandrea received a heritage award for fixing the grave marker.
It’s fantastic that relatives of Black Bull’s wife are coming for this event, added Deets, especially since they are part of the “original history” of the area.
For more information, visit WACA's Facebook group.
