‘Canada is doing an excellent job’: Hundreds of Indigenous dancers gather at Saskatoon reconciliation powwow

Hundreds of Indigenous dancers gather at Saskatoon reconciliation powwow.

Indigenous dancers from across Canada, and even the United States, gathered at Saskatchewan’s largest reconciliation day powwow.

About 800 dancers took the stage at SaskTel Centre for the Saskatoon Tribal Council’s Every Child Matters Powwow in honour of reconciliation.

Jerry Cleland came from Detroit, Michigan to dance. Cleland is Chippewa from the Saginaw, Swan Creek and Black River Band.

“We don’t have reconciliation day in the States right now. Canada is doing an excellent job,” Cleland said, while preparing to dance.

“This is where we learn about who we are. We’re all sharing with each other, as native people, we’re sharing who we are.”

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Cleland said it’s interesting to see how dance styles change when crossing the border.

“You come out this way and you get to see the chicken dance,” Cleland said, referring to the men’s traditional powwow dance style.

Saskatchewan premier Scott Moe attended the event and walked beside Saskatoon Tribal Chief Mark Arcand during the grand entry.

Arcand said seeing Indigenous people and non-Indigenous people come together is a key part of reconciliation.

“We have to remember our culture was outlawed,” Arcand said.

“We couldn’t perform our ceremonies. Now we’re doing it in an urban setting in 2025. So this is magnificent.”