Albertans dances way to top

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Dancing to more than 30 drums in the same arena the Hartford Whalers skate in was a big thrill for Sean Waskahat, an 18-year-old grass dancer from Alberta.

But winning first place at North America's most expensive powwow was even bigger. Waskahat took home $1,000 and a suede and leather jacket from the Schemitzun '93 event in Hartford, Connecticut, held Sept. 16-19.

"And he didn't even expect to win. Waskahat entered for the joy of dancing.

"When a person dances, they have to love what they're doing," he said. "It's not just the money or winning when you go to a powwow. I'm happy to be dancing, to be with my friends, that's what it's all about.

Waskahat was a bit overwhelmed by the competition, as he was dancing with people who placed first in large powwows across North America. But the grandeur of

the Connecticut event made up for the nerves.

"It was fun, the biggest gathering I have ever been to. It blew me away they had the powwow in the same civic centre where the Hartford Whalers play," he said.

To prepare himself before dancing, Waskahat thinks about things that make him happy, like playing a killer game of volleyball, or about his little nephews. Then he hopes for a good song.

"I'll still dance if the song isn't good," he said. "But at this powwow all the songs were good."

Waskahat is also a singer and travelled to the powwow with the Fly-in Eagles drum group from Saskatchewan.

The Mashantucket Pequot Tribe invested a lot of money and effort to make the Schemitzun '93 the largest event in North America. The band spent approximately $1.5 million on the powwow, feeding all registered dancers and singers twice a day for three days, installing a high-tech sound and light system in the centre, and sponsoring a massive giveaway of 250 star quilt blankets and 250 Pendleton blankets.

The Mashantucket Pequot are able to fund such an extravagant affair through their casino, which opened almost two years ago.