Summer Storytelling 2023: Pow Wow dancing with Curtis Peeteetuce and Kohkum Elizabeth Ahenakew
Back, left to right: Curtis Peeteetuce, Theresa Cloud-Crain, Kohkum Elizabeth Ahenakew, Rayann Lynn Crain, Mahihkan Friday. Front, left to right: Wolfgang Littlepoplar-Williams, Kam Miller, Karleigh Wapass-Rene.
Summer Storytelling 2023: Pow Wow dancing with Curtis Peeteetuce and Kohkum Elizabeth Ahenakew
Curtis and Mahihkan demonstrate the Grass Dance.
The Saskatchewan History & Folklore Society and Core Neighborhood Youth Co-op offer free summer storytelling workshops yearly. In 2023, our theme was pow-wow dancing. Artist and Grass Dancer Curtis Peeteetuce and Kohkum Elizabeth Ahenakew led the series. This year, we were pleased to have Kam Miller, a former participant, as our first Youth Mentor.
From August 9 to 13, youth participated in daily workshops to make friends, enjoy art, and learn about pow-wow traditions and protocols.
On August 9, Kohkum Elizabeth started us off in a good way with a smudge, a prayer, and some instruction in smudging protocols. We then spent the afternoon doing art in the form of button-making. Buttons are a good way for folks to get to know each other in a fun and informal setting. Many unique button creations were the result!
On August 10, after a smudge, Curtis took the stage to share his story of how he became a Grass Dancer. He also shared a traditional story about the origins of the Grass Dance style. He then demonstrated different song and dance styles within the Grass Dance tradition, assisted by his son, Mahihkan Friday.
August 11 was another day of art and informal fun. We started the day with an exercise with Kohkum Elizabeth, learning the various uses of the parts of the bison. Following that, the young people had the choice of painting with acrylics or exploring bokeh photography.
Theresa Cloud-Cairn and Rayann Lynn Cairn in the Grand Entry at the One Arrow Pow wow, 2023.
On August 12, we travelled to Wanusekwin Heritage Park. There, some youth had the chance to dance in front of an appreciative live audience. We learned some protocols from Kohkum to help us at the pow-wow the following day. We had bannock and jam and took a bison tour from Wanuskewin staff.
On August 13, we rounded out our series with a visit to the One Arrow Traditional pow-wow for the day. For some youth, this was their first time experiencing a pow-wow. For others, it was a chance to enjoy a day of dancing and community.
Thanks so much to Curtis for leading our workshops and to Kohkum for giving us good guidance and teachings. Thanks to our Youth Mentor, Kam Miller, for all their support and great programming ideas. Thanks also to Marcel Petit at CNYC for helping facilitate the use of the CNYC space.
Finally, thanks so much to our great youth participants! We hope to see everyone again next year!
Visit our Instagram highlights for a series of short videos from each day.
Schedule:
Wednesday, August 9, 12:30 PM to 3:00 PM
Welcome, making buttons
Thursday, August 10, 12:30 PM to 3:00 PM
Intro to Pow wow dancing with Curtis
Friday, August 11, 12:30 PM to 3:00 PM
Art à la Carte (painting with Kam and Curtis, bokeh photography with Kristin, uses of the bison with Kohkum Elizabeth)
Saturday, August 12, 12:30 PM to 4:30 PM
Wanuskewin. Pow wow protocol teachings with Kohkum; exhibits & bison tour
Sunday, August 13, 10 AM to 5 PM
Attend a Pow Wow at One Arrow First Nation (Traditional)
With thanks to our partner Core Neighborhood Youth Co-op!
Funding provided by:
Examples of Other Past Workshops
Storytelling and Photography (Summer 2022):
Photography-based storytelling workshops for youth in collaboration with the CYNC
February Break Youth Storytelling (2022):
Art-based storytelling workshop for youth in collaboration with the CYNC
Living in Saskatchewan Youth Storytelling Project:
A three-year series of youth storytelling programs from 2018 to 2021