Competitive powwows saving culture

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Elder Eric Cardinal is in favor of competitive powwows because they help to develop a link between North American tribes.

Cardinal, 51, who has been the master of ceremonies (MC) for about 100 powwows, explains people from al parts of the country attend competitive powwows for the cash prizes awarded. But, more tribal customs and ideas are exchanged at these powwows as compared to traditional powwows, which may only attract communities closer to the event because of the limited money involved.

He believes the powwows teach young people about the Native culture. "The young people enjoy powwows more than sitting in class learning Indian traditions and customs that Europeans teach them," he says.

All of his family members participate in powwows, round dances, seat lodge ceremonies and sun dances. Cardinal from Saddle Lake, says, "I don't think enough people include their whole family in traditional events. I try to live how I think an Indian should live and I'm proud my family does the same."

Over the 12 yeas that Cardinal has been an MC, he sees powwows going in a positive direction. He says the dancers and drum groups are getting better every year.

Cardinal started doing MC duties simply because someone asked him, too. He guesses it was because he is fluent in both the English and Cree languages.

The only time Cardinal can MC is on the weekends because he works at the Edmonton branch of Alberta Health Care Monday to Friday as a stock keeper.

But, Cardinal will always have a job as an MC because even after the powwow season ends, round dances still continue through the winter months.

He doesn't get paid to work either event, however, sometimes he get a gift or gas money for the trip home.

When the dancers are kicking up dust on a windy day, Cardinal reaches for his jar of tea to clear his throat. If that doesn't work, he chews on a rat root. "It soothes the throat," he said with a smile.

The biggest powwow Cardinal ever attended was the Crow Fair in Montana, where nearly 100 tribes attend the event each year. But, he didn't MC at the powwow because "it's too big . . . one MC can't do it alone."

While attending powwows across the nation, he has noticed some differences between tribal customs. For example, he says the Eagle Feather ceremony is done differently among the Cree, Stoney and Blackfoot Indians.

In the ceremony, when a feather from a dancer's outfit falls and touches the ground, the powwow is stopped so the feather can be retrieved. Cardinal explains the Stoney and Blackfoot tribes will hold an Eagle Feather ceremony everytime this happens. However, the Cree Indians will do the ceremony once and will stop the powwow. But, if it happens again, a ceremony will not be performed. Instead, an Elder will be asked to pick the feather up and the powwow will continue.

"When I get old and can't move anymore, I'll be happy in the knowledge that I participated in all the Native ceremonies . . . it's the only way to live," he concludes with a chuckle.