Assembly of First Nation first Round Dance draws large attendance

By Lisa Abel

OTTAWA—The sound of hand drums, songs and laughter filled a hotel conference room in Ottawa as hundreds of people attended a Round Dance hosted by the Assembly of First Nations January 18.

Chief Wayne McKenzie of Timiskaming First Nation offered a welcome to Algonquin Territory.

Assembly of First Nations National Chief Perry Bellegarde thanked the Algonquin peoples and acknowledged that it was the first time the AFN had organized a Round Dance in the nation’s capital.

“There are protocols we have to follow. We’re bringing this ceremony from the prairie territories, the Treaties 1 to 8,” Chief Bellegarde said. “It’s about prayer, ceremony, love, kindness, respect, and the feeding of ancestors, our relatives and the spirit beings.”

In addition to the Round Dance protocol, a special ceremony was conducted in honour of the AFN Eagle Staff, which is over 20-years-old. The AFN Elder’s Council had suggested that the energy of the Eagle Staff be refreshed and rejuvenated: new beadwork and Feathers were prepared in accordance to protocols.

“Now we have the Assembly of First Nations Eagle Staff that will lead us and help our community stay strong and represent us, and not only in Canada, but in the world,” Chief Bellegarde said.

The ceremony, described as an Eagle Feather transfer, saw the old Eagle Feathers and flag, as well as the new Eagle Staff, brought around the dance arena by the Elders, veterans and youth.

“These Eagle Feathers defended our nation, defended our tribal sovereignty throughout the land, and so, it’s time to take another course with them,” emcee Harold Thompson explained, adding that the items would be taken care of in a spiritual manner. “[The newly assembled Eagle Staff] is something bright, something new, something focused, just like how we want our leadership to be.”

The ceremony was followed by a feast of soups, stews, bannock and sandwiches, and a giveaway towards the end of the evening.

Invited Drummers and Singers included Harvey Dreaver (Stickman), Donnie Speidel, Quintin Dreaver, Mark Okihcihtaw, and Allan Bonaise. Elder Marshall Dreaver from Big River, Saskatchewan was also in attendance.

Elder Roberta Oshkabewisens said that the Round Dance has been a part of our communities for some time. Smaller community dances were held in the winter, in honor of ancestors who had passed on, and those journeying into the spirit world.

“It is to help them in that way, and to give them a feast, because a lot of people and a lot of beings are fasting during the winter,” she said.  “This helps them celebrate where they’re going, how they’re doing their path, their walking. The songs, the laughter and the dancing helps them in their way.”

National Chief Bellegarde was pleased with the sense of community at the Round Dance, which drew over 400 people from the Ottawa area and across Indigenous country. “If we want to rebuild our people, it will be on language and ceremonies. So sharing this, amongst all of the tribes, it’s a very powerful, special feeling right now,” he said.

“And with everything that’s going on across Canada, it also rejuvenates the strength and who we are as First Nations people. I’ve always said we have common law and civil law, but this is part of Creator’s law, and that’s something we all have to learn from, and that’s a good thing.”