Historical connection

Dancing in powwows helped Chelsea Dault through the tough times in her life.

The 23-year-old mother of two attended the annual Anishnawbe Keeshigun at Fort William Historical Park with her two-and-a-half-year-old-son Jacob and six-month-old-daughter Angela Hahneepineskum. The three-day festival, which started on Friday, had food vendors and demonstrations but Dault said she was there to dance.

Dault has danced at Keeshigun for four years and said she participated because it helped to heal her spiritually.

“A lot of things were going on in my life and not very good things,” Dault said on Sunday. “The dancing helped me a lot spiritually and mentally. I really want my family to grow up knowing about powwows so when they are going through hard times like I was when I first started they can also dance.”

Head dancer Nathaniel Moses has danced at Keeshingun for about 40 years and said when he danced it was almost like a prayer.  He said powwows are a time for people to gather and enjoy each other’s company.

As a head dancer, it’s Moses job to lead the example during the powwow. He said it’s a great feeling to have that leadership role in the community.

“You’re acknowledged and that is a big thing,” Moses said. “This is the reason why I was invited to be a head dancer at the powwows in our community. A powwow is a setting of enjoyment and is shared as a group so we could actually have a supper and have a powwow. We’re here to dance and sing and enjoy what we have today as First Nation people.”

Fort William Historical Park spokesman Marty Mascarin said more than a thousand people attended the first part of the festival and expected about the same number to attend the Sunday powwow. FWHP has held Keeshingun as an annual even for more than 20 years.

Mascarin said the event is a way for them to pay tribute to the historical partnership the First Nation people played during the fur trade era.

“I think this really does emphasize the importance of the relationship among all cultures in Canada,” Mascarin said. “Certainly there is no shortage of controversy but this puts greater emphasize on the positive aspect of things and acknowledge the First Nation peoples contribution, which was very significant.”

   --- Follow Jeff Labine on Twitter: @Labine_reporter