The Ben Calf Robe Annual Traditional Pow Wow took place on May 13 at the Commonwealth Rec Centre.

Every year the Ben Calf Robe Wow Wow has a theme. This year it was Homelessness and Poverty. During the supper break, brief presentations were made by several agencies in Edmonton that address poverty, particularly among Indigenous peoples. Lloyd Cardinal acted as the Emcee for the presentations and introduced Bishop Jane Alexander, Diocese of Edmonton, Anglican Church of Canada, and Co-Chair of EndPoverty Edmonton as the first speaker. The Bishop first acknowledged the land, Treaty 6 Territory, then said it was not good enough that Indigenous people are numbered the highest in poverty and homelessness. She encouraged everyone to walk together as brothers and sisters to help end poverty in a generation. Other speakers included a representative for the Ben Calf Robe Society, Beverly Allard for Homeward Trust, Russell Auger for Ambrose Place, and Jared Epp for the Bissell Centre.

The presentations were preceded by prayer and a tobacco offering by Elder Fred Campiou.

Photos are by Paula E. Kirman and were taken at the 1 p.m. Grand Entry.