Traditional drumming at a three day powwow hosted by Tribal Memories in Medicine Hat ( submitted photo/CHATNewsToday)

By Tiffany Goodwein

Indigenous Powwow honours lives of Indigenous children found in residential schools

Aug 15, 2021 | 9:01 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – As the drum beats, it is a coming together of community as a park in Southlands transforms into a three-day powwow to honour the remains of Indigenous children found in residential schools in Kamloops, Saskatchewan and the United States.

For Dakota Brandt, one of the organizers, news of the recent discoveries hit close to home. Brandt is a residential school survivor himself.

“It was traumatic. I mean we knew this for hundreds of years, and it is sad the federal and provincial governments basically turned a blind eye to it,” Brandt said

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At just three years old Brandt was taken away from his grandparents and forced into residential school along with his two older brothers, as part of the 60s scoop.

“You couldn’t speak your language. Your hair was cut as soon as you were there and the problem with this is a lot of us that first went couldn’t speak English. I refused. I was 19 before I learned English, and yeah I got beat, after beat after beat, and locked into the closets no food, no nothing,” Brandt said.

During the powwow, traditional music and dancing filled the park. For the Singh family from Calgary, the trip was one they had to make to learn more about the culture. Tegh Singh is a former U.S. soldier who recently found out he has Indigenous roots.

“If I don’t learn more about, and embrace the culture, then it dies with me. So for our family, it is really important but I think for broader communities as well. It is really important to understand how privileged we are to be here, to understand our impact and the history so we can start to change it,” he said.

Brandt asked Singh and other veterans to take part in the ceremony, as a way to say thank you for their protection. Police and the fire department were also invited. And for those who took part, it was an honour.

“It is so wonderful to see so many people coming together and enjoying the evening, and enjoying the festivities and celebrating so we never forget what happened in the past and yet we are coming together to look forward into the future,” said Sheila Donner, president of the Robertson Memorial Branch #17.

And as they looked towards the future, hands joined in unison during the round dance. All their spirits becoming one, strengthening their prayers for reconciliation.