J.J. Kelso Centre Pow-wow and Summer Feast 2009

We had our second Annual Pow Wow and summer feast in the back yard at J. J. Kelso Centre on August 19th. It was another great event with a lot of learning for all. The rain stayed away until the Pow Wow was over and everyone was able to sit outside ,enjoy each others company and dance.

 

Ron Kanutski was our M.C. again this year and did a wonderful job. He has an amazing ability to connect with young people and spoke from his heart about the hurdles that he has overcome in his life in an effort to show our youth that there is hope for them too .His message also strongly focused on reminding the youth that there are people who care about them in the community and want to help them achieve their goals in life beginning with the people attending the Pow Wow who were there to show and give support.

 

Aaron Therrieult who brought his drum also spoke of his struggles and gave messages of hope to the youth .The kids went to the drum to listen to those messages and talked about what they had heard in conversations after the day was over. One girl announced that she intends to try and “get her life together “and has contacted her DILICO worker to assist her in organising treatment. This young person discovered family members she did not know about at one of the drums .This drum was from her community.

 

Visitors and staff spoke of what Pow Wows mean to them and there were teachings throughout the day about the Drum, the dances and the songs .We had traditional dancers, a young grass dancer, shawl dancers and jingle dress dancers showing the different types of dance . We also had an Eagle Staff present. The kids discovered some fun Pow Wow games that eventually lead to everyone’s participation with not one person sitting out. We all danced at some point!

 

The Feast was held in the gym and  the food was traditional and fantastic .Our cooks received numerous compliments from our visitors and worked very hard to make the Feast a success. Elder, Margie Lyons blessed the food and we fed 48 people.

 

Myself and the residential staff are learning so much in terms of other cultures as a result of our involvement in these activities and  our relationship building skills are also strengthened .A celebration such as this brings people from all walks of life together and promotes understanding and mutual respect. This provides a strengthened framework ,we believe ,for the staff and youth to work productively on the issues that brought the youth to custody.

 

Our teenage youth, family members, staff, community partners ,Dancers ,Drummers and our special guest Elder Margie Lyons spent a very happy day together.

I look forward to our Fall Feast and our next annual Pow Wow in the summer of 2010!

Yvonne Farquhar
Manager of Residential services, JJ Kelso Centre