The sound of drums, the swirl of regalia, and the sense of community all came together over the weekend just outside of Kisbey, as Pheasant Rump Nakota First Nation hosted its annual competition powwow at the 7 Lakota grounds.
The gathering welcomed hundreds of dancers and visitors from across Canada and the United States, turning the quiet grounds into a celebration of culture, language, and unity.
“This was our biggest turnout yet,” said event organizer Kathleen McArthur. “We had almost 200 dancers in the grand entry alone, and it stretched across three full songs.”
The powwow was held on the Pheasant Rump Nakota First Nation, adjacent to Kisbey, and was open to everyone, regardless of background.
“It didn’t matter where you lived or your identity,” McArthur said. “We’re very inclusive, and this was a drug and alcohol-free event that celebrated our culture, our language, and our people.”
Planning the weekend celebration took months of preparation and support from businesses across the region.
“To make this happen, we fundraise all year long,” said McArthur. “We were sponsored by a lot of good people, Petland in Estevan, Arcola Pharmacy, Arcola Co-op, and more. It takes the people to help us support our event.”
As a competition powwow, the weekend featured a wide range of categories for dancers, including golden age, adult, teen, junior, and tiny tots. Winners in adult categories took home up to $1,200, with additional prizes across all age groups.
The singing competition drew international attention, with a prize pool of $40,000 and drums traveling in from Saskatchewan, Alberta, Manitoba, and as far as Nebraska.
“One of our sponsors, Broken Arrow Gas Bar, donated $10,000 just for the singing contest alone,” McArthur said.
Special dance contests also took place throughout the weekend, with categories for both men’s and women’s traditional, chicken, fancy, jingle, grass, and shawl dancing. The event also included specials hosted by Chief and Council.
Beyond the competition, McArthur said the weekend was about more than dancing and prizes.
“The beauty of our celebration is that we’re passing on our culture to our youth,” she said. “Our elders get the opportunity to talk with the children and to practice what we preach.”
And of course, no event is complete without a touch of humour, something proudly on display in the event poster, which included the line: “We are not responsible for theft, injury, divorce, or financial destitution.”
“It’s Indigenous humour at its finest,” laughed McArthur. “You get that many people together, someone might catch someone’s eye, and who knows what happens. It’s all in good fun.”
To see more photos, videos, and reactions from the weekend, you can visit the Facebook page here.