Rains stays away for powwow

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The prayers of the Elders must have been very strong.

Visitors, dancers and singers on their way to the grand opening of the 2003 Poundmaker Cree Nation powwow not only drove through pouring rain coming down from every direction, they also watched huge thunderstorms roll across the prairie skies throughout the weekend, threatening to drench everything in their path. But the dark storm clouds kept their distance from the arbour and campgrounds throughout the powwow, which ran from June 20 to 22.

Nothing but a small sprinkling of misty rain hit the powwow grounds until Sunday afternoon. The 20-minute sun shower cooled the air and gave everyone a short break, including powwow commentators Eric Tootoosis and Corky Old Horn.

Chief Ted Antoine and council members Irene V. Tootoosis, Duane Antoine, Brian Tootoosis and Colin Favel gave the opening addresses and welcome during the Friday night grand entry with support from visiting chiefs and council from Thunderchild, Little Pine and Onion Lake.

Former Chief Delbert Wapass, a grass dancer from Thunderchild First Nation, lent an experienced hand in the arbour, working with the area director to keep the children in hand and the events flowing smoothly.

The 2003 powwow theme?Educating Youth Through Culture?had special meaning for the families of Rochelle and Rasheal Tootoosis, who were brought into the dancing circle during a tiny tot special on Saturday, and a Tootoosis family initiation and giveaway on Sunday afternoon.

Rasheal, who was teething on his dancing stick throughout the initiation, won a small blue tricycle for outstanding dancing form in the little warriors dance-off, and was more than happy to share his booty with friend Spencer Frank from the neighbouring reserve of Little Pine.

International visitors Rachel Old Horn and Jean Bear Crane from the Crow Agency in Montana and Gary Whitford from Rocky Boy, Mont,, were joined by Faran Tootoosis from Poundmaker and Tennielle Poogak from Sweetgrass in a crow dance exhibition special, wearing old style regalia decorated with layered rows of elk teeth.

Jingle dress dancers Evelyn Thom and daughter Shelda Thom traveled from White Fish Bay, Ont. to Poundmaker to present an exhibition of old time traditional jingle dress dancing and preside over a jingle dance special hosted by Alanna Tootoosis, the current defender of the 2001 and 2002 ladies world champion jingle dress dance titles. Tootoosis presented the Thoms and the three winners with hand-quilted star blankets.

A well run and well attended event paid tribute to many hours of hard work and organization put in by powwow committee members Alanna Tootoosis, Shirley Mae Antoine, Celeste Tootoosis and Shirley Tootoosis.