pwâtisimowin 2025
"pwâtisimowin" is the Cree word for pow-wow. The program offers youth the chance to refine their dance skills, engage in cultural programming, participate in pow-wow traditions within their community, and have fun! Artist and Grass Dancer Curtis Peeteetuce and Elder Elizabeth Ahenakew hosted the 2025 program.
We scheduled pwâtisimowin for July 14-18, 2025. Youth had fun, learned about pow-wow protocols, and, most importantly, danced! We made special trips to dance at Wanuskewin and the Sweetgrass Traditional Pow Wow.
We had intended July 14 to be our startup day. We were to have lunch in the park, introduce ourselves, and plan the week's activities with the group. Unfortunately, we had to cancel the day's activities due to intense smoke (Environment Canada recommended avoiding all outdoor activities).
Left to right: Lawrence Roy, Kristin Enns-Kavanagh, Karleigh Wapass-Renz, Tyrece Martell, and Rayann Crain try out hoop dancing.
On July 15, due to the smoke, we relocated our hoop dance workshop with Lawrence Roy (intended for outdoors) to the nearby Cosmo Civic Center. Here, we enjoyed a fantastic workshop with Lawrence, where he explained the origins of his hoop dance practice and gave the youth the chance to observe or try out the hoops themselves. We closed the day with lunch.
You can see a short video of the workshop with Lawrence on our Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/p/DMJRIARRJ7g/.
View all our videos from each day of the week ("Youth 2025" highlight on our profile): https://www.instagram.com/stories/highlights/17920843976999899/
On July 16, we ate breakfast in the van as we travelled to the Sweetgrass Traditional pow wow and joined Curtis at his camp there. Youth participated in the grand entry, explored the pow wow grounds, had lunch with Curtis at his camp, and danced in their categories.
Curtis Peeteetuce talks about the significance of Kohkum scarves at Wanuskewin, summer 2025.
On Thursday, July 17, we had our day at Wanuskewin. Youth danced in front of an audience of park visitors. Curtis hosted and shared teachings about the various dance styles and the history of some of the regalia. We then had lunch and retired to Wanuskewin's Storytelling room, where Kohkum prepared a smudge for us.
The youth then enjoyed a presentation from Wanuskewin staff on some of the art and regalia they hold in their collection. We finished the day with evaluation forms and an exercise facilitated by Kristin, designed to gather information on preferences for next year's activities.
Friday, July 18, was a "chill" day at Core Neighbourhood Youth Co-op. We had lunch, said our thanks for the workshop, and spent the afternoon making buttons.
On August 29, we held a debrief lunch with two of the youth, Curtis, our two Excursion Supervisors, and one parent to evaluate the program and brainstorm ideas for next year.