Friendship society invites you to celebrate

Page 9

The Conayt Friendship Society of Merritt is hoping you?ll join them on June 2nd through 4th for their second annual powwow to be held in the Shulus arbor at the Lower Nicola nation, four miles west of Merritt on Hwy. 8.

Cultural co-ordinator Cecil Nepoose has been working since January, along with a volunteer powwow celebration committee, to put all the pieces of the powwow in place. There are 13 volunteers working and meeting regularly on the powwow, and students from the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology will be acting as welcome ambassadors for visitors to the powwow, Cecil said.

Prayers have been sent from the valley and ceremonies with the Elders have been held, so, with all the ritual protocols taken into account, it should be a good weekend.

Some folks who regularly travel the powwow circuit may know Cecil from powwows across North America. Others may know him by reputation alone. He was founder and lead singer of the Pigeon Lake Singers for quite a few years. Cecil took the 1998 world championship title in his dance category - Men's 50 and Over, Northern Traditional - at the Schemitizen Intertribal Powwow at the Mashantucket Pequot Reservation in Connecticut. He has instructed cultural awareness workshops across Canada, most recently in James Bay, Que.

Cecil has been gearing up for the powwow by holding cultural workshops and seminars on the teachings of the Plains people and the do's and don'ts of powwow celebrations. His workshops have focused on the significance of the drum and the dancers, the circle and the powwow circuit itself.

While not traditional cultural fare in the valley, located a mere hour's drive from Kamloops, the powwow has become a much appreciated way to celebrate the Indian way of life for many Aboriginal people in British Columbia.

"I have a drum class right now. I'm doing a singing and drumming class. I also have dance instruction going on as well," said Cecil.

The word itself - Conayt - means helping others, and that's why the director of the friendship centre initiated the powwow, for healing purposes, as well as for the people that are directly involved in powwow in B.C., said Cecil.

"There is quite a large range of powwow people, participants, that now have started since, I'd say, around the early '70s when the Mission powwow started," he said.

Host drum is High Noon, a group that began at Thunderchild First Nation in Saskatchewan and who now reside at Hobbema in Alberta at Samson First Nation. The drum group has a number of CDs available and has a fine reputation across Canada.

"I know the boys, and I kind of grew up with them," Cecil said.

The powwow is receiving good support from local business and corporate Canada, many of whom have sponsored dance and drum competition.

There are nine categories in the adults and golden age group with pay-outs of $800 for first place, $500 for second and $300 and $100 for third and fourth respectively.

In the teen group, ages 13 to 17, there are six categories with pay-outs of $300, $200, $100, and $50 for first, second, third and fourth places.

In the junior group, ages seven to 12, there are two categories with pay-outs of $100, $75, $50 and $25.

"We're going to be having a men's fancy dance special contest. . . . We?re posting a $1,000 for that event," said Cecil.

The drum competition, which attracted 17 drums last year, will pay out first ($3,000), second ($2,000), third ($1,000), fourth ($800) and fifth ($600), with five consolation prizes of $200 each.

Cecil was head drum judge last year, but this year, Leroy Brown of Hobbema, a prominent singer on the circuit, will do the honors. Les GoForth of Saskatchewn is area director and Vince Beyl of Minnesota is powwow announcer.

There will be an admission fee of $10 for the whole weekend, which includes a program, powwow button, parking and camping. Onsite will include a food concession, St. John's Ambulance and security.

The powwow is drug- and alcohol-free event. This rule will be strictly enforced.

Grand entry will be held at 8 p.m. on Friday and 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Registration is from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday, and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Early registration is from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. in the Grasslands Hotel lobby at 3350 Voght St.

For information call (250) 378-5107 or email conayt@uniserve.com.