BATTLEFORD - The Ridge, south of Battleford, was alive with the beat of the drum Friday as Mosquito, Grizzly Bear's Head, Lean Man First Nation (MGBHLM) held its annual powwow celebration.
This is the second year the event has been held at the grounds there.
Chief Tanya Aguilar-Antiman said it's important to have the powwow on these grounds, beside where the former Battleford Industrial School used to stand.
"We had one [a powwow] here last year and it was very clear at the last powwow that we continue it," she said. "It was set for [Aug. 23]. There were significant things that took place here, with commemorating the eight fallen warriors [from the Last Mass Hanging] with the 21-gun salute, and honouring our Indian Residential School survivors."
Aguilar-Antiman noted the powwow is a time for young and old to come out and dance together.
"[It's to] not forget that the children who have passed on from those Residential School and Industrial School days, they are not forgotten," she said. "This land right here was the first Industrial School in Canada. They weren't allowed to speak the language; they weren't allowed to sing, do their ceremonies or any of that. So, we're here today to say: You are not forgotten, and we'll keep you always in our hearts."
Also, during the event, eagle feathers were given to attendees as a gift to honour residential school survivors. Battlefords Agency Tribal Chiefs Indian Residential School Dept. and MGBHLM Economic Development Corp. Friends of the Ridge Reconciliation Team were planning this ceremony for some time.
"In those meetings, [we said] it was important that the survivors living today be acknowledged," Aguilar-Antiman said. "So, we fulfilled that plan, and [it's a sign] for our knowledge keepers, our residential school survivors that are out there that they are loved and they are cared for. We're human. It's an opportunity for them to continue on with their journey. It's really a message of letting them know that we love them."
