12 | NATIONAL INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY
SATURDAY, JUNE 17, 2023
“ WE CALL THAT DRUM A GRANDFATHER — AND A GRANDFATHER SPIRIT IS ONE THAT HELPS YOU WHEN YOU HAVE A HARD TIME. – Ray Stevenson
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SEE THE WALKING WOLF SINGERS AND DANCERS ON WEDNESDAY, JUNE 21 AT A LUNCHTIME PERFORMANCE AT CITY HALL AND IN A TRADITIONAL POWWOW LATER THAT DAY AT THE RED RIVER EX’S INDIGENOUS PEOPLES APPRECIATION DAY.
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“The styles we currently have would be fancy shawl, jingle dress, women’s traditional, grass dance and men’s traditional.” Today, his knowledge of protocol for powwow and ceremony means he acts as a Knowledge Keeper and he is called on to consult for school divisions and universities. “I started doing powwow clubs in the North End where I grew up and now today you find not hundreds but thousands of young people who are totally interested and want to do it,” he says proudly. “One school division alone has over 450 dancers because of powwow clubs at their schools.” Ray Stevenson wanted to give others the opportunities he never had growing up. “When you have gifts like singing and other teachings and knowledge,” he says, “it’s important that you pass on that knowledge to the next generation so that it survives.” See the Walking Wolf Singers and Dancers on Wednesday, June 21 at a lunchtime performance at City Hall and in a traditional powwow later that day at the Red River Ex’s Indigenous Peoples Appreciation Day. Treaty and Manitoba Métis Federation cardholders will receive free admission from 3 to 5 p.m. They will also perform at the Winnipeg Folk Festival on July 8 and 9. Bookings are available through Folklorama at bookings@Folklorama.ca.
Ray “Coco” Stevenson started the Walking Wolf Singers and Dancers more than 25 years ago. PHOTOS BY DARCY FINLEY
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