The three Woodland Cree chiefs share a laugh during the opening ceremony. (Submitted photo/Deepan Dasgupta)

By Derek Cornet

coming together

LLRIB hosts annual Woodland Cree Gathering

Aug 24, 2022 | 2:03 PM

The 2022 Woodland Cree Gathering in La Ronge is well underway with a range of free activities suitable for all ages.

The three-day event began Tuesday with an opening ceremony at the Lac La Ronge Indian Band’s (LLRIB) Kiskinwuhumatowin Urban Reserve located in downtown La Ronge. While there are various displays and vendors operating at the gathering, yesterday’s highlights included a political forum, outdoor movie and a Creedence Clearwater Revival tribute performance.

“It’s really amazing to be able to host a large event hosting the three Woodland Cree First Nations with our community, Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation and Montreal Lake Cree Nation,” LLRIB chief Tammy Cook-Searson said. “We had a really nice turnout yesterday for the opening ceremony. We had a lot of dignitaries there and community members.”

Searson explained herself, Chiefs Karen Bird and Joyce Naytowhow McLeod, Prince Albert Grand Council chief Brian Hardlotte, band councillors and other representatives made progress during the political forum. She noted the forum usually only takes a couple of hours, but the meeting went well beyond that.

“Everyone wanted to say their views,” Cook-Searson said. “We had a lot of common issues that we talked about. It was really interactive and nice just to get together. We had a lot of discussions and we ended up setting another date to continue on with the discussions and have some action items come out of our meeting.”

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Festivities will continue at the urban reserve and Patterson Park until Thursday. Wednesday’s highlights are a golf tournament, beach events, a Texas Hold ‘Em tournament, a jigging and square dancing showcase, as well as gospel entertainment.

A list of events occurring until Thursday evening. (Facebook/Kevin Roberts)

Paddle making is a traditional activity being showcased at the gathering. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

Visitors can learn about furs and hide stretching. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

Numerous vendors are on site selling products or distributing information. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

Events will continue all day Thursday and they will include a horseshoes tournament, talent show, a magician/hypnotist performance and it will end with fireworks at 9:30 p.m. at Patterson Park.

Montreal Lake Cree Nation hosted the Woodland Cree Gathering in 2019. It was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID. Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation will next host the gathering in 2023.

La Ronge Avenue between Cuthland Street and Backlund Street will be closed all three days between 9 a.m. to 4 p.m to accomodate the events.

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @saskjourno