Saskatchewan has three world champion dancers

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Three ladies from Saskatchewan recently earned world titles at the Schemitzun 1999 World Championship of Song and Dance, held just outside of Hartford, Conn. at Mashuntucket Pequot in September.

Linda Standing from the Whitebear First Nation won in the adult women's northern traditional category. Irene Oakes of Nekaneet First Nation placed first in the women's fancy category and Yvette Ironstar from Ocean Man First Nation was champion in the adult women's jingle category.

While each of the three ladies have their own story to tell, there are many parallels in their lives. Each of them has gone through post-secondary training and each has attained a degree.

Standing, who holds a bachelor of education degree from Brandon University, is now employed with the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations Education and Training Secretariat where she coordinates the First Nations School of Cooperative Education.

Oakes, who also has a bachelor of education degree, works in economic development on the Nekaneet First Nation and is pursuing her masters degree in educational administration.

Ironstar attained her bachelor of Indian social work from the Saskatchewan Indian Federated College and currently counsels battered women and children.

While the powwow circuit takes up a lot of time for the each of the women, it is not the most important aspect of their lives. In fact, for all three women, it has become a family event.

Standing's three children have all been brought into the dancing circle and have danced for many years. Sons Robert and Ryan dance fancy and grass, respectively. Daughter Charlene, now in women's traditional, has been dancing for 19 years. She says the best part about travelling the powwow trail is meeting "interesting and different people from different kinds of cultures."

She has made friends with people from all over the United States, including an adopted family in Oklahoma.

Oakes' two oldest children are dancers as well, and recently placed at the same powwow where their mother was crowned world champion. Her daughter, Christy Goodwill, was fourth in the jingle dress competition and son Terrance Goodwill was third in men's grass. She also has two young girls - Laryn, 3, and Mallary, 4 - who have already begun to dance in the dancing circle.

Ironstar's six-year-old daughter also dances and attends ceremonies with her mother.

For each of the ladies, ceremonies are a big part of their lives.

"All of us attend ceremonies in the summer," said Standing. "We get our families involved. We like to incorporate into our lifestyle."

For each of the women, their dancing means something different.

"To dance is my life, meaning it helps me in my life to be the person who I am today because it brought me along. It created happiness in my life when my life was sad," Standing said.

Oakes said her dancing "makes me happy."

"It's a positive way to keep myself motivated and balanced physically, mentally and spiritually," Ironstar added. "It keeps you balanced on that right road. You dance for life and everything falls into place."

All three women said they have all had very positive role models while growing up. They each come from strong lines of leadership - parents and grandparents who are well-respected members of their communities.

This foundation is what made the women the people they are today - strong women who have found a balance between their professional lives, their families and their culture.