Alicipsumqui - News on the health and well-being for our communities - Fall 2023

Featured Story

4th Annual Healing Your Spirit Powwow

Hundreds if not thousands of people came together to share their journeys of healing with one another at the fourth annual Healing Your Spirit Powwow and celebration in Wauzhushk Onigum in July.

The three-day annual gathering, hosted by Ogimaawabiitong (Kenora Chiefs Advisory), is a way for us to come together and honour survivors of residential schools and the thousands of children that never made it home, as well as to celebrate our military veterans and our youth.

“It brings a lot of healing to everybody, and it brings the community together to help celebrate who we are as Anishinaabe people,” says Reno Cameron, Cultural Coordinator with KCA.

“Healing the spirit. We’re all healing each other,” adds Cameron. “My spirit, your spirit, the drum, the children… everyone. And especially our residential school survivors. That’s what it’s all about. And it gets bigger and bigger every year.”

Dancers and drummers from Treaty #3, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and more all gathered in Wauzhushk Onigum’s Roundhouse as Chief Chris Skead led the weekend’s Grand Entry and celebrations, which kicked off with Treaty #3’s traditional healing and fight songs.

Dancing and drumming then filled the community before a special celebration was held for residential school and 60’s scoop survivors. Survivors shared their journeys of healing with the crowd and encouraged us to come together as smudged blankets were passed out to survivors and their family members.

“As Anishinaabe people, especially in the residential school era, a lot of our people were affected,” explains Chief Skead. “You either were a survivor, were a child of a survivor, or your grandparents went to residential school. That’s just the way it’s been for Anishinaabe people.”

“But it’s gatherings like this that heal us,” he adds. “You see a lot of youth out dancing. You see people laughing, smiling and having a great time. That’s exactly what this is meant to do. Heal our spirit through our drums, our songs, our gatherings and our relationships with one another. I’m grateful to be a host of this beautiful event. It’s really special.”

“This area is a good place for it because there was a residential school here,” notes Danika Crow, Cultural Services Manager with KCA.

“A lot of people that are dancing here are residential school survivors or they’re second-generation survivors. It’s a nice way to honour our parents and grandparents, heal together and move forward. And remember that we still have our culture. The dancing helps us heal and it’s just a good way to celebrate our way of life.”

A number of raffles and giveaways also took place over the weekend, as well as a fish fry Saturday afternoon. Prizes up to $500 were provided for adult and youth dancers in a variety of traditional categories. Bryce Kejick of Iskatewizaagegan #39 served as Head Man Dancer and Swan Lake First Nation’s Emilie McKinney served as Head Lady Dancer for the weekend’s gathering.

KCA sends a huge Miigwetch to the community of Wauzhushk Onigum and Chief Skead for hosting the weekend’s gathering. Miigwetch also goes out to our drummers and dancers for sharing their songs and traditional dancing.

We would also like to send a big Miigwetch to staff and volunteers for helping set up and clean up, Gary Smith and Ricky White for emceeing, and our cooks, security, staff carriers and vendors for their support.

A special shout-out to the Blackstone Singers, Whitefish Bay and Whitefish Bay Jr. Singers, Hanisha and the Lake of the Woods Singers.