Medicine Hat Police Service Indigenous liaison officer Lori Parasynchuk stands before a new mural at MHPS. Parasynchuk and the community boardroom received Blackfoot spirit names in a Friday ceremony.--PHOTO BY JOLYNN PARENTEAU
Connecting to culture is medicine. Our steps are lighter when our healing journey is shared with others.
Canada’s second National Day For Truth and Reconciliation approaches this Friday. This past week Medicine Hat College and Medicine Hat Police Service each took steps toward reconciliation in two powerful ceremonies.
Blackfoot Elders Charlie Fox, Pii tonista, ‘Eagle Calf’ and Dan Fox, Omahksipiitaa, ‘Big Eagle’, of Kainai Nation first presided over a naming ceremony for Medicine Hat College’s new gathering space on Thursday.
Notable community members and guests in a rainbow of ribbon skirts filled the circular space flooded with light from the round skylight above. The audience participated in a berry blessing, sharing a prayer over a Saskatoon berry plucked from a traditional berry soup, a recipe from Elder Wilma Crow Chief in attendance.
“Our Elders say, don’t be shy that you pray. To be shy of praying is to be shy of a relationship with the Creator,” explained emcee Eldon Weasel Child, Natowohkomiina, ‘Holy Thunder Chief’ of Siksika Nation.
Jingle dress dancer Josie Saddleback, ‘White Bear Woman’ of Samson Cree Nation and fancy shawl dancer Maggie Fox of Kainai Nation shared their traditional dances as the thundering drum was struck by Newton Bullshields of Stand-Off Blood Tribe, David Restoule, Migizi-Wasaa-Ewaabit, ‘Eagle Who Sees Far’ of Medicine Hat College and others.
The new assembly hall received its new name Omahksipiitaa, ‘Big Eagle’, passed on by Elder Dan Fox.
“This is a monumental moment in moving forward in reconciliation, walking together,” said Chasity Cairns, Saaam Aakii, ‘Medicine Woman’ in Blackfoot, manager of Indigenous engagement and student supports at MHC.
In the same ceremony, MHC director of community engagement Jennifer Kerslake was bestowed with the name Omahkatayaakii, Bobcat Woman, for her tireless effort in seeing the new gathering space come to fruition.
Speaking to the assembled audience and those watching the livestreamed ceremony, Kerslake shared that, “The tenacity of every employee and student on this campus who chooses to strive for reconciliation every day makes me extraordinarily proud to be part of this community.”
The following day, the Medicine Hat Police Service hosted Elder Charlie Fox in its community boardroom for a naming ceremony of its own. Elder Fox gifted the Blackfoot name Aahkoinnimaan ni, pronounced ahh-queen-imah-nee, meaning ‘The Sacred Pipe’, a symbol of justice, peace and resolution.
A new mural unveiled depicts the new name, with rival warriors meeting to share the peace pipe in what is now recognized as Saamis Archaeological Site where Seven Persons Creek runs through the coulee, a site of 13,000 years of Indigenous history. Local Métis artist Ray-Al Hochman created the stunning colourful mural over many nights in the time leading up to the unveiling. Hochman primarily works with oil, acrylic and spray paint; his work can be seen on Instagram @_rayartistico_.
Guests from Miywasin Friendship Centre and MHPS members in attendance received teachings of the pipe ceremony from Elder Fox. As the pipe was passed hand over hand to those gathered in a circle, participants touched the pipe to their shoulders four times, offering four prayers to the Creator.
“It was an honour and a privilege to be here today to witness the renaming of the room,” said Medicine Hat Police Commission member Gwendoline Dirk.
MHPS Indigenous liaison officer Lori Parasynchuk was also honoured with the name Naato Awo’taan Aakii, ‘Holy Shield Woman’ for her commitment to building relationships with our urban Indigenous population in her downtown beat. Elder Fox shared stories of survival in his lifetime, blessings he passed on to Parasynchuk before she received her new Blackfoot spirit name, then gently pushed her forward as a symbol of stepping into her new identity.
On Saturday, drums sounded from Saamis Tepee, where a demonstration powwow was held for Alberta Culture Days, attracting Indigenous crafters and more than 100 spectators. Elder Charlie Fox and Miywasin Friendship Centre executive director Jeannette Hansen opened the celebration with Blackfoot and Michif prayers respectively.
Nekaneet First Nation’s Buffalo Calf Singers sang the Flag song, historically sung as warriors rode into battle. Today it welcomed a grand entry of dancers and flagbearers for Treaty 7, Treaty 4, a yellow reconciliation flag, the Métis Nation, Canada and local Indigenous youth non-profit Cousins Skateboard represented.
Between drum songs, MC Kyle Blood of Kainai and Piikani Nations shared the history and legends of each traditional dance. Josie and Kelly Saddleback of Samson Cree Nation and Delvin Stanley of Nekaneet Nation each danced their corresponding jingle, chicken and grass dances, with youth performing the fancy shawl dance, all putting their craft on display in a flurry of regalia. An Intertribal dance encouraged everyone in the audience to join in as a united community.
The Miywasin Singers were on hand to sing the Strong Woman Song, an Anishinaabe song performed to “encourage all who hear it to be the light in the face of despair, to find courage when you are challenged, to be the change the world needs and know you are capable of anything you set your hearts and mind to, especially when we are united,” this writer told the assembled crowd.
At each of these esteemed events, the awe and reverence felt when hearing Indigenous languages spoken cannot be understated.
“When we speak our language, we’re more connected to our land and our culture,” says powwow organizer Amy Cross, a Metis cultural facilitator and consultant of Cross Cultural Connections.
On Sunday, Cross assisted Miywasin and the Medicine Hat Interpretive Program in hosting a Métis ‘kitchen party’ at Police Point Park. Beneath trees beginning their colourful autumn transformation, community members gathered to cook ‘la galette’, Métis Michif for bannock over the fire. Miywasin’s Brooke Simon offered the golden treat with jam and butter.
Two-time Canadian Grand Master Fiddle Champion Daniel Gervais delighted the audience with renditions of the Heel-Toe Polka, Chicken Dance, Red River Jig with dance step lessons from Cross, and other jovial tunes. Gervais shared the legend of a fiddler’s clever escape from a noose in the Hangman’s Reel.
Meanwhile at Medalta’s Crockstock Festival, Calgary’s Blackfoot Medicine Speaks Dance Company wowed the crowd with their traditional performance.
“It is important to have witnesses at these gatherings so that the word spreads,” says Weasel Child. “In today’s world, we need good words to share about our people and our way of life.”
JoLynn Parenteau is a Métis writer out of Miywasin Friendship Centre. Column feedback can be sent to jolynn.parenteau@gmail.com
