Benefit concert raises funds for Kawacatoose

Despite cool and windy weather conditions in Regina on September 18, a benefit concert held at the First Nations University of Canada (FNUniv) appeared to warm the hearts of Kawacatoose First Nation community members, concert goers, performers and organizers alike.

Earl Magnusson from the Touchwood Agency Tribal Council came to Regina to enjoy a portion of the concert.
“I wasn’t there for the whole eleven hours,” he said. “But many of the community members came out it seemed. I thought it was an awesome event.”

Aboriginal performers from across Canada converged at FNUniv to lend their support to Kawacatoose First Nation which was devastated by an F3 tornado on July 2 that levelled 15 homes on the reserve and severely damaged five others, leaving 87 people homeless.

The concert opened at noon with a grand entry, traditional dancing and drumming and ended with several First Nations musicians giving impromptu performances for a crowd braving the cold weather with blankets and heavy coats.

Event organizer and Kawacatoose band member, Hugh Poorman of HNV Producations said 11 entertainers from Saskatchewan and other provinces performed during the event.

“Every one of the entertainers we contacted jumped onboard right away. They travelled from afar to share in the healing through music,” Poorman said.

Although country music star Crystal Shawanda was the main event of the day, the concert line-up included many other popular Aboriginal performers and groups such as C-Weed, Conrad Bigknife, Black Rain, Mitch Daighneault, Stephanie Harpe, Errol Kinistino, Teagan LittleChief, League of One, It’s a Secret, and a rising star in her own right, Terri-Ann Strongarm.

Poorman’s business partner Vanessa Wolfe said the overall concert was just amazing.

“The benevolence of the people and how everyone just pulled together for such a good cause. Crystal was the first person we thought of because she inspires through her music, giving such a source of strength to people,” said Wolfe.

Shawanda, who had squeezed the Regina event into her busy schedule, said she looks for any and every opportunity to lend her voice to a good cause.

“I feel it’s such a blessing to do what I do for a living, so this is the least I can do,” she added.

Shawanda previously performed with some of the artists that were part of the benefit concert and said she regretted that her stopover in Regina was so short.

“I’ve played with a couple of the performers before, but a lot of the bands were new to me, so I wish I would have gotten here earlier to share in their music,” she said.
With the weather being as chilly as it was, Shawanda said she was impressed by how many people came out to support this good cause.

The FNUniv grounds were chosen as the venue for the event not only because there is a long and successful history between HNV Productions and FNUniv in organizing events such as the yearly Native Idol Concert, but also because it was a way to bring something positive to the university, said Wolfe.

“First Nations University has faced its own challenges within the last year, and we thought, ‘let’s bring something to the university that will bring back good feelings.’ That’s where our hearts were, to create a positive coming together of the community.”

Kawacatoose has come together as a community as well, and Chief Darin Poorman is happy with the progress that is already being made. In a CanWest News interview he said that things are turning around, that homes are already demolished and new places are going up.

The First Nation received some monies in provincial funding, insurance claims and donations since the natural disaster hit, but it still faces a more than a half million dollar shortfall in cash to help rebuild.

Even though the benefit concert was held on the same weekend as Treat Four Days it was well attended and according to some community members attending the event it lifted the spirits of those from Kawacatoose.