Sikiska hosts a week of fun events for everyone

Times Reporter

 

Over the course of the week, and now leading into the weekend, Siksika Nation has been a popular destination. 

Starting on Monday there was the Run as One event, which is held every year, bringing in big name aboriginal stars and local artists. 

The events, geared towards teens, took place at the Deerfoot Sportsplex and were a way to lead up to the weekend. This weekend there will be a powwow competition, rodeo and golf tournament to draw in old and young alike.

“The A-1 Club is one of the oldest powwow clubs that’s in existence and they have been in existence since the 50’s. The first what we call Indian Days was held in the early 60’s and was the first of its kind anywhere and it’s been going on ever since,” said Gerald Sitting Eagle, president of the A-1 Club that is hosting the event this year.

“A-1’s were the first ones to have it and then the tribe took over and they’ve been giving it to other groups that bid for it, and this year we bid for it and it just so happened council gave it to us to run on behalf of the nation.”

The powwow itself is a competition for different age groups. There will be eight different dance categories for each group, including fancy dance and jingle dress dance. 

This year Sitting Eagle said they have added the Blackfoot-style women’s traditional dance, and the men’s buckskin war bonnet dance. Dancers can’t just enter the circle and begin dancing; they must be initiated into it. Families honour their families, or family member, by having a special or a give away to bring them into the circle.

“We as first nations people have to pay to be inside that powwow circle. A give away is where you prepare, some families prepare three, four years to have a give away, and you give away material things like blankets whatever they can pick up throughout the years…they just give gifts to visitors, elders, whoever they want to give gifts to,” said Sitting Eagle.

He said it also allows some members to give something in memory of someone who may have passed. Siksika Nation Chief, Fred Rabbit Carrier invited other chiefs to come down and take part in the three-day event. Everything officially starts on Friday at 7 p.m. The Grand entry will take place at 1 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, starting at 1 p.m., the final events will be taking place. 

“There’s no admission. We’re still one of the original people that don’t charge admission. We don’t put a price on our culture, so people are just welcome to come in,” said Sitting Eagle.

“For our non-Indian friends I guess the best time to come in is Saturday afternoon and Sunday afternoon, a lot of people just come around, take pictures and just be amongst our people. We see people from all over North America.”

Everything will be taking place in Siksika Nation. Sitting Eagle said the competition and powwow grounds can be found just off of the 901, heading towards Gleichen.