‘Really special’: Inaugural Gathering of Nations held in Dawson Creek

DAWSON CREEK, B.C. — First Nations from across western and northern Canada came together this weekend at an inaugural Gathering of Nations in Dawson Creek. 

The four-day extravaganza took place from Thursday, September 18th to Sunday, September 21st at the Ovintiv Events Centre.

It was a celebration of Indigenous culture, with handgames, a powwow, a cultural marketplace and more. 

There was also a prize pot totalling $300,000.

An organizer previously told Energeticcity.ca that, unlike cultural camps hosted by the individual Nations such as WestMo Days or Doig Day, different events will happen simultaneously in the same building.

Opening the powwow, Halfway River First Nation Chief Darlene Hunter thanked the sponsors and staff for making the event happen. 

“Especially now in such tumultuous times in the world, we need to meet together,” she said. 

Mayor of the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality (NRRM), Rob Fraser, also addressed the crowd: “I want to bring greetings from the Northern Rockies and from the Nations in the north, and just want everybody to have a great time.”

Tracy Paquette from Blueberry River First Nations, who accompanied her 81-year-old mother to the powwow, told Energeticcity.ca these events are important to celebrate Indigenous ancestry, knowledge and culture. 

“It’s here to show our culture, our way of life, our way of living to other people and it brings everybody together,” she said. 

“…[Dancing is] healing, it takes away your worries, it takes away your pain.

“When you have pain, you sit beside the drum and it hits you. It heals you where you’re sore.”

Paquette and her mother spent around five months making Paquette’s dress, praying over every element and ensuring only “heart” and “good thoughts” go into the garment. 

“Don’t put negative thoughts on it, because if you do that, you are wearing your outfit and put that out there,” she said. “…You’re carrying it into the circle, and you don’t want anyone else to get hurt.”

People travelled to Dawson Creek to attend the event, including 16-year-old Inti Burnham from Sturgeon Lake and 34-year-old Arnold Bearhead from Edmonton. 

“I go to the powwows for the healing aspect of it, meeting new people, being able to meet people from all walks of life, learning new things,” Bearhead said. 

“…Everyone has past trauma, alcoholism, drug addiction – and it’s about healing yourself as a person, dancing for those that can’t dance, dancing for those stuck in that lifestyle and dancing for the people.”

Dawson Creek local Andi Larocque, who is 30 years old and a member of Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation, told Energeticcity.ca her dress was homemade over two weeks, with 365 ‘jingles’ sewn into the fabric. 

“I think it’s really special because it’s my home town and this is the first time I’ve ever heard of a powwow being here before,” she said. 

“It feels really good. I’m here with a lot of my family and nieces and nephews, and I have a newborn son – he’s here, he’s going to dance too, he has little regalia we will put him in later on.

“It’s important to me because a lot of it was lost through colonization and residential schools. 

“…We lost a lot of our traditions, so it’s really special for us to be here and to continue going to ceremonies, coming to dance and teaching our kids how to walk a red road and be proud of being Indigenous because for a long time, we were not proud.” 

Larocque explained ‘walking a red road’ means living a traditional lifestyle, including staying sober, learning Indigenous languages, practicing customs and observing ceremonies. 

Connie Greyeyes, who is a member of Bigstone Cree Nation in northern Alberta and one of the organizers of the powwow, told Energeticcity.ca the gathering is more than any one aspect.

“It’s also the handgames and the cultural space outside,” Greyeyes said. “It’s the same dancers that have come to this powwow who also attended the Spirit of the Peace Pow Wow, a lot from Alberta, Saskatchewan, down the highway. 

“The local Fort St John dancers don’t compete at the Spirit of the Peace Pow Wow, because it is their home…but here in Dawson, they can compete, and it’s wonderful to be able to be part of bringing that for them.”