Powwow keeps getting bigger and better

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Over the years, Regina resident Charles Pratt has learned a lot about organizing the nationally-renowned annual Saskatchewan Indian Federated College Powwow. He's also learned that the continued success of the event requires a year-round planning effort - something dedicated organizers have contributed each year since the SIFC powwow was born back in 1978.

"We start looking forward to this event about a year before it happens," said Pratt, event chairman for the past six years.

"We'll have a little break for a couple of weeks because a lot of people are kind of tired . . . but we will have a review meeting in about three weeks. We'll start right away and look at where we can improve, then we'll set our dates so we can start publicizing for next year already. It's not a full time job but it takes a lot of supervision over a long period of time," he said.

Judging by the turnout at this year's event, Pratt and his committee are doing a masterful job ensuring the SIFC powwow retains its reputation as one of the best in North America.

Between 8,000 and 10,000 people attended this year's celebration, held April 4 to 5 in Regina. All told, about 750 dancers from throughout Canada and the United States competed at the event. About 35 drum groups from Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Montana, South Dakota and New Mexico also attended.

According to Pratt, the organizing committee has focused its efforts on establishing the event as one of the largest and most successful indoor powwows in North America. As it stands, the SIFC powwow is one of the largest indoor powwows on the continent.

Only two other indoor powwows - one in Albuquerque, New Mexico and the other in Denver, Colorado - rival the SIFC event in terms of size and reputation, said Pratt.

Tim Eashappie agrees with that assessment. Eashappie, who hails from Hays, Montana, has attended the SIFC powwow 12 times in the past 20 years and is impressed with the event each time he returns.

Before the year is over, Eashappie will attend about 40 powwows, travelling coast-to-coast throughout Canada and the United States.

"It [the SIFC powwow] seems to be getting bigger and better every year and there seems to be a lot more young people," he said.

"It's really important that the younger people start getting involved because they're learning about their culture and because there's so much alcohol and drugs around these days."

According to Pratt, the SIFC powwow has always been a big draw for Aboriginal youths, even if they aren't participating in the cultural events.

"A lot of young people come here just to socialize and that's important too," Pratt said.

"Even if they're not dancing or whatever, they're still looking on and they're learning something. They're learning about their roots and they're being attracted to their culture."

"There's something here that's very healthy for the individual and there's something that's very healthy for the different social groups that are here as well," Pratt continued.

"This is a very positive cultural experience for us. It's fine art. Every culture has fine arts. The music and dancing are the fine arts of Indian culture."