Elder honored, remembered at round dance

Page 2

Round dance season winds down in late April, just as the powwow season is starting to warm up. One of the last memorial round dances of the new year was held at Thunderchild First Nation in honor of the late Sylvester Cardinal and several family members.

Friends and family coming in from Onion Lake, Ministikwan, Prince Albert, Lloydminster, Frog Lake, Loon Lake, Saddle Lake and Thunderchild, joined the circle to honor the memory of a man who had touched so many lives.

From the first tuning of the hand drums, by way to fire, to the last song of the night, a memorial round dance is held for everyone in the community, friends, family and esteemed Elders. It's a time to honor traditional ways and the memories of those who have guided us in the past.

Special honor songs are sung and prayers offered as the drums are passed through the sweetgrass smoke.

After the blessing with sweetgrass, Elder Norman Sunchild led the memorial prayers and gave several commemorative speeches on the life of his good friend Sylvester Cardinal.

His tribute touched on the family's growing respect for traditional culture and medicine. Elder Sunchild spoke in depth about his great respect for his late friend, a man who had helped so many people with his deep knowledge of plants, spirits and Native medicine. He also noted that a growing number of young boys and men present were honoring true Neheyew tradition with the wearing of long braids.

The drum, including several members of Red Bull - led by Brian Waskewitch and a number of enthusiastic singers and players attending the round dance - was accompanied by Delia Bull, a talented singer who lent a powerful feminine voice to many traditional Cree songs.

According to Plains Cree tradition, a fire was kept burning all night, from the beginning of the feast to the end of the round dance.

The camp fire proved to be a very popular gathering spot for many young people attending with their parents and grandparents.