A Grand Entry to a Historic Lhtako Dene Pow Wow

Lhtako Dene Nation’s Pow Wow opened with a Grand Entry that drummed right into one’s heart and soul.

Opening the first day of this year’s Competitive Pow Wow, members of nations all across Western Canada, and the United States entered and ‘danced their style’ in Lhtako’s arbour at 7 p.m.

This was the second year a competitive Pow Wow was held in the Arbour. With hundreds of contestants entering the dance and drumming competitions.

“It’s beyond expectations. We knew it was going to be great, but not like this,” says Lhtako Dene Nation Chief Clifford LeBrun. “Seeing the whole arbour full of dancers, the energy, the power, you could just feel it.  It was truly amazing, and everyone in there had real positive energy. The kids are just having fun, laughing and playing. That’s the main thing, and to see so many elders smiling, that warms my heart.”

It is supposedly one of the largest Pow Wows this year in Western Canada, according to LeBrun. There were dancers from Colorado, Washington, and Montana who made the journey up to Lhtako Dene to compete.

There was also members of nations in Alberta, Manitoba, all the way out into eastern Ontario.

After the Grand Entry, the Intertribal took place, as eleven different drumming groups performed and were adjudicated. One of the official starts to the competition. New to this year was the Whispering Winds, an all female drumming circle.

The contests started on Friday evening, starting with the Tiny-tots, and Jr-girls/boys categories. Each dancing to one song for the night, and the Jr Boys performing a chicken and grass dances.

Next was the teen girls and boys, dancing to one song each as well. Which included a jingle dress and grass danxe.

Then was the Golden age categories for both women and men.

Near the end of the first dances was a a ribbon dance special. Over 30 women, in amazing colourful dresses lined the arbour’s grass circle. Dancing as the Young Spirit drummers performed, even tricking the dancers with near stops.

It took two rounds of the Ribbon Dance Special before the five finalists were named and crowned.

For this year’s competitive Pow Wow, Lhtako was able to award higher prizes than they have ever been able to give out to dancers. Chief LeBrun says this was due to all their sponsers that contributed.

“We decided after last year’s Pow Wow, which is a great success, that we wanted to see if we could go a little bit bigger. And so the idea of the competition Pow Wow, with own source revenues and partners like Osisko Development and West Fraser Timber, we’re able to offer some pretty decent prizes and which is what the draw is. We got some really good quality drums and really good quality dancers.”

Hosting the Pow Wow and making it one of the bigger events on the calendar for many peoples, was a goal achieved for Lhtako. Chief LeBrun couldn’t be happier with how the Lhtako’s Pow Wow Committee was able to bring people from all over Western Canada, and Western North America, to Lhtako Dene.

“It’s just amazing when you get people from all over different walks of life, different pieces of geography when they all come together for the same thing. It’s amazing, and it’s empowering. It truly is.”

The Lhtako Dene Pow Wow continues Saturday starting at around noon, and scheduled to go until midnight, or as the Chief says “when it’s over and peoples hearts are full.”

Sunday is the final day of the Pow Wow. Opening to the public at 11 a.m. and closes around 8 .pm.