A piece of history is made during powwow

Times Reporter

 

People who attended Saturdays powwow at Siksika Nation may not have realized they were witnesses to a historical moment. Before the competition began Chief Fred Rabbit Carrier, of Siksika Nation, and Chief Duane Antoine from Poundmaker signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MOU.

“We have a strong history amongst ourselves in business, sports, education, cultural and there’s honour and respect between the nations,” said Bryan Tootoosis, from Poundmaker. 

“It’s really important for the future of our grandkids, and the kids that are unborn to recognize, and to know that Chief Poundmaker was adopted by Chief Croowfoot. That’s a big history for us back in Saskatchewan,” said Antoine. 

Poundmaker (Pitikwahanapiwiyin) was adopted by Crowfoot (Isapo-Muxika) in 1873, following a Plains Indian custom to replace one of his own sons killed in battle. Poundmaker was a political leader and had signed treaty six.

The MOU is to build capacity as far as exchanging knowledge, years ago in First Nations there was free trade long before Europeans began it said Rabbit Carrier.

“This was to kind of renew that, kind of a free trade between Siksika and Poundmaker. What makes it unique is that Poundmaker is an adopted tribe within Siksika. Chief Crowfoot adopted Chief Poundmaker, since then the relationship has always been the same, so we just wanted to also renew that information,” said Rabbit Carrier. 

“It (the MOU) was signed last year but it was not signed by our chief so I requested for proper protocol, the chiefs have to sign. The only time that we were able to do that was during our powwow.”