Restoring the Sacred’s Round Dance – Celebrating Youth, Honouring Tradition
Left Collage: Pictured with a hand drum, Elder Morley Kingfisher (One Arrow First Nation, Saskatchewan) sings and drums along with some of the opening songs. Elder Kingfisher also blessed the Round Dance giveaway.
Right Image: Wayne Lalman (RTS Coordinator) and Amber Armitage (RTS Youth Activities Worker) organized the Round Dance as a way of celebrating the youth mentors and mentees in their program.
February 14, 2025 – On Friday, February 14, our Restoring the Sacred (RTS) program hosted a Round Dance, with around 800 community members gathering in ceremony, song, and dance throughout the evening.
Wayne Lalman (RTS Coordinator), Amber Armitage (RTS Youth Activities Worker), and Chavez Green (RTS Mentee) organized the Round Dance.
We spoke to Lalman and Armitage about the ceremonial and social aspects and their experience.
Restoring the Sacred is a youth-centered, culturally-based program supporting Indigenous high school students with their transition to living in Winnipeg, helping them in reaching their education goals through individual peer mentorship and after-school workshops.
After RTS mentors and mentees made drums and ribbon skirts during the program, Lalman and Armitage decided to arrange a celebration for the youths, showcasing their efforts.
The first step was booking the venue, the Viscount Gort Hotel. Then, the organizers reached out to community to fulfill traditional Round Dance roles like the singers, stickman, and emcee.
Generally speaking, Round Dances are Winter or Fall ceremonies. Dancers join hands in a large circle, stepping with the beat of the singers’ drums as the circle rotates. At anytime, you’re welcome to join in, sit and watch, or leave if needed.
Cree Round Dances began as a healing dance. It’s often hosted by a family or group in the community, either as a social gathering or memorial service. The event typically includes a pipe ceremony or prayers, a giveaway, and a ceremonial feast.
Lalman and Armitage participated in a sweat with a Cree Elder before the event.
“When you prepare yourself for ceremony, you go in with a clear mind…,” says Lalman. “…You do things in the right way.”
The Elder spoke about the importance of centering the event on ceremony, and bringing that to the youth and community. The pipe ceremony and feast were as much a focus as the Round Dance itself, given particular time and care.
“Not rushing it, and just letting it happen the way it did, a lot of people came up to me afterward, and were so grateful that they were a part of that,” says Armitage.
At this Round Dance, the circle formed around a poplar tree. Some regions use different trees, like willow or pine.
“It’s the tree that gives us life and gives us everything we need,” says Lalman. “It represents that connection to our earth, to us and our lives.”
“That tree of life, you’re respecting that, because we’re calling in our ancestors and we’re using them for that guidance, for that connection,” says Armitage. “We’re celebrating them.”
Both emphasized their pride in seeing the community and families come together and enjoy themselves.
Attendees travelled from as far as Island Lake, The Pas, and Regina. One of the invited singers even came in from Thunder Bay.
The event was estimated to bring in around 400 community members, so the nearly doubled turnout was an ‘amazing’ and ‘beautiful’ response.
Restoring the Sacred has youth asking about the next Round Dance, and how to participate. In the future, Lalman and Armitage hope to use it as ‘one big showcase’ for all of Ka Ni Kanichihk’s youth programs.
“This is our culture, I know they can stand knowing it’s in their DNA to have this happen and be a part of it,” says Lalman. “To uplift them.”
Lalman and Armitage encourage community members to attend, as the ceremony is open to everyone. Questions about the ceremony are welcome at anytime, as the event exists through and for community.
“There’s no wrong way to do it…we’ll guide you and teach you in that loving way,” says Armitage. “Come be a part of this… this way of life that we celebrate and honour.”
“If you’re not sure about these kinds of ceremonies, or you want to learn more about it, just come and check it out,” says Lalman. “If you’re not sure, follow your heart, do what your heart says. Follow your spirit, and it’ll guide you.”
Chi-Miigwetch to everyone who attended and participated.
Learn more about our Restoring the Sacred program here.
For more updates and details about events like this, you can follow Ka Ni Kanichihk on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
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