Albert Young immerses himself in the passion of the dance at a mini Powwow as part of a cultural exchange between CFB Shilo Active Skills Summer Camp youth and Swan Lake First Nation on Aug. 25.
Photo K-J Millar/Shilo Stag News
K-J Millar
Shilo Stag News
More than 25 CFB Shilo youth experienced the open arms of reconciliation and education in a Swan Lake First Nation cultural exchange and mini Powwow on Aug. 25.
With many youths living, schooling and attending activities on Base the opportunity was a way to promote cultural knowledge during the Active Skills Summer camp, Aidin Mason, community recreation supervisor said.
“An exchange was organized with Swan Lake First Nations so we could get to learn their culture and they can get to get to know ours. It gives the kids more experience outside of the Shilo Base,” Mason said.
Brian Poole of the Defence Indigenous Advisory Group (DIAG) and Jim Mackenzie FS & R manager, organized the exchange to expand the knowledge of the campers and use the reconciliation educational opportunity to introduce the Base Command Team to the Swan Lake First Nation Chief and Council.
Band Councillor for Swan Lake First Nation, Michael Esquash said the significance of bringing two cultural groups together is to gain an understanding of one another.
“It creates bridges to otherwise a separation which has been created in the past. It brings awareness to both sides of the fence, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, to see that there is not a lot of difference between what we do and why we do it. It is the sharing of ways and sharing of life,” Esquash said.
The exchange started with children from the Swan Lake Band attending CFB Shilo daily for a week to experience military base life and interact with their new friends made at summer camp. They played games such as dodgeball, engaged in outdoor activities and walks around the base, made ice cream, completed different crafts and went swimming.
In return, summer campers from Shilo visited the Swan Lake First Nation for a mini Powwow and lunch with soup and traditional bannock in conjunction with an introductory visit from the Base Command Team.
“Experiences like this allow for an exchange of culture … The kids got to be part of a Powwow. They got to dance and they got to see the passion,” Poole said.
Mason said it’s important to understand the different cultures that are within the area. Events such as the exchange and Powwow allow expanded experience and youth can see what it’s like to live in a different culture than military base culture and their home cultures.
The objective of the command team on the day was for introductions to open up conversation between the two groups.
“It’s important to have that dialogue and communication,” Poole explained, adding that the First Nations Reserve borders some of the CAF training areas.
Poole said reconciliation can be a difficult topic to discuss.
“This type of event is important because this is what Canada is. We have to understand the roles we can all play in reconciliation, ” he said, adding it’s important to see the youth go to Swan Lake.
“It’s a very beautiful culture … I want my child to grow up in his culture and appreciate it,” Poole said.
Esquash said everybody wants the same thing – to have a good life, good health and for children to have a good beginning with strong future.
“We want our kids to succeed and learn – to have positive environments.”
“We are just trying to support each other, work together and unify to give our kids a better chance. We want to do that for every kid because every one of our children is not “ours.” They are gifts given to us by the Creator or God … It’s up to us to take care of those gifts and nurture them and support them as best as we can,” the Band Councillor said.
Rowyn Cowper, Danica Yaciuk, Raine Yaciuk enjoy the selection of traditional food offered by the Swan Lake First Nation Band at a cultural exchange between CFB Shilo summer campers and First Nations youth on Aug. 25. Photo: K-J Millar/Shilo Stag.
A group of CFB Shilo Direct Skills summer campers enjoy participating in a mini Powwow hosted by Swan Lake First Nations as part of a youth cultural exchange between the two communities on Aug. 25. Photo: K-J Millar/Shilo Stag.
Sgt. Sylvain Leblanc and Lt. Tanner Kavanaugh participate in dancing at a mini Powwow hosted by Swan Lake First Nations as part of a summer camp youth exchange to promote reconciliation and cultural education on Aug. 25.Photo: K-J Millar/Shilo Stag.
Lincoln Yaciuk and camp councillor Aiden Morton dance at the mini Powwow hosted by Swan Lake First Nation as part of a youth cultural exchange experience on the last day of the CFB Shilo Direct Skills Summer Camp Aug. 25. Photo K-J/Shilo Stag.
Lieutenant Tanner Kavanaugh and Sergeant Sylvain LeBlanc participate in the dancing at a CFB Command Team introduction and mini Powwow hosted by the Swan Lake First Nation as part of a cultural exchange on Aug. 25. Photo: K-J Millar/Shilo Stag.
Bronson Gardiner, Rowyn Cowper and Thea Maze are full of expression during a cultural exchange between CFB Shilo Direct Skills Summer Camp youth and Swan Lake First Nations on Aug. 25. Photo: K-J Millar/Shilo Stag News
A Swan Lake First Nations youth dances at a cultural exchange between CFB Shilo Direct Skills Summer Camp youth and Swan Lake First Nations on Aug. 25. Photo: K-J Millar/Shilo Stag News
Defence Indigenous Advisory Group (DIAG) members with dancers at a mini Powwow hosted by the Swan Lake First Nations as part of Command Team Introductions and a summer camp exchange with CFB Shilo youth on Aug. 25. Photo: K-J Millar/Shilo Stag News
