Poundmaker Cree Nation celebrates exoneration with powwow festival - Action News
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Saskatoon

Poundmaker Cree Nation celebrates exoneration with powwow festival

People gathered this week to celebrate the exoneration of Chief Poundmaker, who was convicted of treason-felony and imprisoned in 1885following the Northwest Resistance.

Event held to honour Chief Poundmaker's exoneration in 2019

Powwow dancers can be seen wearing regalia and dancing under an arbour.
Dancers take part in the grand entry at Poundmaker Cree Nation on Aug. 3, 2023, during a celebration marking the exoneration of Chief Poundmaker. (CBC News)

The vibrant colours of the regalia shone in the sun and the sounds of drums and singing filled the air as community members gathered to celebrate the exoneration of Chief Poundmaker.

The original chief of Poundmaker Cree Nation who was convicted of treason-felony and imprisoned in 1885following theNorthwest Resistance happened in 2019,but people in the community say they did not get a chance to celebrateproperly at the time to due to financial challenges and the pandemic.

The festival, whichbegan Tuesday and continued during the week, included powwow dancing undera new arbour, Indian relay races, chuckwagon races, food trucks and people celebrating the victory of justice, progress and harmony.

Poundmaker's Cree name was Phtokahnapiwiyin, which means buffalo pound, sacred seat in a buffalo pound. He is also known as "peacemaker"because he wanted to negotiate for peace.

One of the restored images of Chief Poundmaker at the Poundmaker Museum and Gallery in which Poundmaker can be seen holding a pipe in his hand.
Poundmaker, whose Cree name was Phtokahnapiwiyin, was convicted and jailed in 1885. He and other First Nations leaders were accused of instigating violence in the Northwest Rebellion that year. He was exonerated in 2019 and the community is celebrating his exoneration with powwow dancing and other festivities. (CBC News)

Chief Duane Antoine has been the chief of Poundmaker Cree Nation for 16 years. He noted Prime Minister Justin Trudeau came to the First Nationin 2019 when the governmentexonerated Poundmaker, and celebrating the event now is important for the community.

"He did nothing wrong," Antoine said."Our people were starving.He wanted to negotiate the rationsit all started from starvation," Chief Antoine said.

A Cree chief can be seen wearing his headdress, he is also wearing a cape in white, yellow and blue.
Current Poundmaker Cree Nation Chief Duane Antoine says celebrating Chief Poundmaker's exoneration is important for the community. (CBC News)

Antoine said he applauds the federal government for exonerating Poundmaker and settling their claims.

Floyd Favel, curator of the Chief Poundmaker Museum and Gallery, has been working to repatriate artifacts that belonged to Poundmaker or were connected to him and the history of the First Nation.

Many of Poundmaker's possessions were seized and ended up in museums across Saskatchewan and around the world, he said.

"We talk often of reconciliation, a word being used often," Favel said."This is an example of reconciliation the past has been healed through this exoneration."

A Bandolier bag can be seen with a man in front of it, showcasing different artifacts.
Floyd Favel stands next to a bandolier bag that Poundmaker used to keep flint and a knife to make fire. The bag was donated by an Ontario family who had it for three generations after Poundmaker had gifted it to their great-grandfather. (CBC News)

Favel saidhe feels humbled to have been a part of reviving the museum and pushing for the exoneration.

"What I've enjoyed the most is seeing people smiling, working together, the good will, harmony and the education in our history."

Powwow committee member Delaine Antoine Tootoosis said watching the celebrations feels like a dream and she keeps asking herself if it's real.

"We brought powwow back," she said."Wegot to honour our youth and elders, Chief Poundmaker, residential school survivors, we got to honour our people. I keep getting choked up, I'm so proud," she said.