Elders gather to share time, knowledge and tradition

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While most of Saskatchewan was being drenched by rain, nature granted blue skies and soft, cooling breezes for the grand march that kicked off the four-day Gathering of the Northern Elders, held June 9 to 12 at the Elks' Fairgrounds north of La Ronge.

"We had to come north to find the sun," joked Premier Lorne Calvert, who was joined by three of his cabinet ministers, centennial committee chair Glenn Hagel, Lt.-Gov. Lynda Haverstock, and numerous municipal, First Nations and Metis leaders in helping to kick off the Elders' gathering.

The large crowd of dignitaries gathered for the opening grand march were drummed in by the Churchill River Cree Drum Group from Stanley Mission. Lac La Ronge Indian Band (LLRIB) Elder Henry Roberts, a member of the organizing committee, carried in the eagle staff-a curved staff decorated with eagle feathers, considered the flag of North America's First peoples- which led the procession of flags, including those of several First Nations, the Metis Nation,

Saskatchewan, Canada and the United States (to symbolize the dual citizenship of First Nations people).

Lt.-Gov. Haverstock praised the Elders for the lessons they teach about generosity, humour, integrity and resilience-a trait often needed by those Elders who camped out at the fairgrounds through the three chilly nights ahead. Mayor Dale McAuley of Cumberland House asked for a moment of silence (unfortunately interrupted by a passing water bomber) in honour of Elders who have passed on, including his late father, who had just died 10 days shy of his 101st birthday. The organizers also made a presentation to 14-year-old artist Wehkwas ("CiCi") Durocher in appreciation of the logo she designed for the gathering that depicted two elderly faces forming above a feather of peace.

There was also much delight from the crowd over the comic stylings of emcee (and former "North of 60" TV star) Gordon Tootoosis, who covered up a mistake by declaring, "I don't know why they trust me. They say, 'You have such good lines on TV;'" and over the fancy footwork displayed when Prince Albert Grand Council Dene Vice-chief Ed Henderson challenged Premier Calvert to a jigging contest.

As chair of New North, the organization that hosted the gathering, Mayor McAuley was also drafted into the impromptu competition-although he at first attempted to deflect his duty by putting his actual chair into the fray. Crowd sympathy gave the prize to the premier, although conventional wisdom had the true win going to Elder Henry Roberts, who couldn't resist a chance to dance.

As LLRIB Chief Tammy Cook-Searson told the audience, "We develop new forms of practising our culture and traditions, but we need the Elders to tell us what has been done in the past. These events provide a tremendous opportunity for sharing our traditions and knowledge among the Cree and Dene First Nations, the Metis and Elders of northern Saskatchewan."

Over the four days, well over 500 people took advantage of that opportunity, through the workshops, traditional feasts, and times of storytelling, music, dance and laughter. A circle of tipis housed on-going workshops on crafts such as birch bark biting, basket making, dyed porcupine quillwork, moose hair tufting and jewelry making.

Visitors could also learn practical skills such as how to use medicinal herbs, how to make fish nets, how to make a canoe paddle out of a spruce log, how to stretch an otter skin and how to scrape a moose hide (three were prepared on site).

Other workshops focused on sharing women's experiences, preventing Elder abuse, learning traditional Cree songs and the Dene medicine wheel, and avoiding diabetes and heart problems.

In the evenings, long line-ups formed by the outdoor kitchen, where a group of volunteer chefs served up traditional northern foods such as bannock, fried trout, beaver, caribou and moose meat, with rice pudding and a tart cranberry sauce for dessert. The Elders were alwaysserved first at these meals, which were enjoyed at picnic tables on the fairgrounds.

After supper, hours of live music, dancing and even live comedy kept the crowds entertained. Well-known performers such as DC and the Boys, Leonard Adam and fiddler John Arcand mixed it up with enthusiastic lesser-known musicians, and square dancers, jingle dancers and round dancers all performed.

Aboriginal comedians Maureen Belanger and Der Ric Starlight both brought an "Elder" twist to their acts, with Belanger weaving through the audience as "Old Ernestine," dispensing candy to the kids (who followed her Pied Piper-like), kisses and raucously funny stories about life on the trapline with her beloved Alphonse, and Starlight playing straight man to his puppet "Granny", who flirted with Gordon Tootoosis and drafted him to play the drum while she and the crowd sang a song about fry bread.

The event wrapped up on Sunday afternoon with a retirement of the flags-again led by Henry Roberts with the eagle staff-and more speeches.

The closing words were given to Elders who spoke in English, Dene and Cree, and a closing prayer by La Ronge Elder Catherine Charles.

A final song was drummed and sung by the Churchill River Cree Drum Group as the crowds gathered for a round dance and the words of Henry Roberts rang in their heads: "This is not goodbye.... We hope to meet again."