Aboriginal Cultural Activities
BHF acknowledges that the majority of its clients are Aboriginal. It is also acknowledged that not all Aboriginal persons wish to be involved in traditional and other cultural activities. Cultural programming is therefore not compulsory and the level of involvement is entirely up to the individual.
To facilitate cultural programming there is an emphasis in the hiring of Aboriginal Staff. In the case of equal qualifications, preference will be given to persons of Aboriginal descent fluent in a local Aboriginal language.
The traditional components or activities of the program consist of (but are not limited to) sweat lodges, feasts, fasts, attending and participating in ceremonies such as Sun Dances, Ghost Dances and Warrior Dances, women's ceremonies and naming ceremonies. BHF has its own traditional lodge on site to house ceremonies. This is the Northwinds lodge. All ceremonies are hosted or led by those persons who have been honoured with the gifts to do so.
The Henry Shingoose Traditional Pow Wow is the Behavioural Health Foundation's annual Pow Wow. This year was the 15th year the event was held. There were more than 400 dancers and 33 drum groups who participated over the two day event. Attendance for the 15th annual Henry Shingoose Pow Wow was excellent with the campgrounds full of people staying on site.
“We are pleased with the turn out and enthusiasm of this year’s participants,” reports Mike Calder, Director of Aboriginal Programming, “after many weeks of preparation, we held a great Pow Wow and are happy to report that everyone had a great time. Many thanks to the dancers, singers and drum groups for their wonderful performances.”
The Pow Wow started on Saturday, June 6th at 1:00 pm with the first grand entry. During the two days of celebrations, participants were treated to various dances, drumming and singing, as well as a traditional feast and the opportunity to purchase traditional arts and crafts, some of which were made by BHF members.
The first BHF Traditional Pow Wow was in held 1994 by Henry Shingoose – Ojibway Medicine Man and BHF Elder. Around this time, Mr. Shingoose had identified a need for traditional Aboriginal programming to meet the needs of BHF’s Aboriginal population.
Upon identifying this need, Mr. Shingoose began the development and implementation of the Aboriginal programming component of BHF. In 1999, the Pow Wow was renamed the Henry Shingoose Traditional Pow Wow in his honor. Mr. Shingoose passed away in November 2001.
Next year's Pow Wow will take place on Saturday, June 5th, 2010 and Sunday, June 6th, 2010. For more information on the Henry Shingoose Pow Wow, or any of our Aboriginal treatment components, please contact Mike Calder, Director of Aboriginal Programming at (204) 269-3430 or by email at mikec@bhf.ca.
