The Ben Calf Robe Traditional Pow Wow is an annual event featuring spectacular dancing, drumming, and Indigenous culture. For the past decade, it has taken place in the McCauley area as it is again this year on May 10th from 1-9 p.m. at the Commonwealth Rec Centre's indoor field house (11000 Stadium Road).

Although the event takes place on Treaty 6, the name comes from Treaty 7. Ben Calf Robe was a Blackfoot educator from Calgary. His name was chosen to have the school named after him, which is now Ben Calf Robe-St Clare Catholic Elementary/Junior High. The Pow Wow started in the Ben Calf Robe school gymnasium of St. Clare with just a few dozen people in attendance. As it grew, the event was held in various locations. The University of Alberta Butterdome was its last venue before moving to the Commonwealth Stadium facility.

Kehteya Elizabeth Letendre, Manager of the Council of Elders with the ECSD, explains that in 2012, she and the late Joan Carr along with others who were involved with the Pow Wow approached then-Mayor Stephen Mandel to ask if the City could help find a venue for the growing event. 

That meeting led to a partnership with the City of Edmonton that continues to this day. 

The Pow Wow has been at the Commonwealth Stadium facility, either indoors in the field house or outside, for the past 13 years. Thousands of people from diverse cultures and walks of life attend the Pow Wow not only from across the city, but also from other provinces.

“Attendees can expect to be mesmerized by the sound of our drums, by movements of our dancers, by the vibrant celebrations,” says Ms. Betty, as she is known in the community. “They’ll have a chance to learn the history, speak with others about what a Pow Wow truly is, and maybe even ask a dancer or family about the meaning behind their regalia." For those who may not know, “regalia” refers to the dancers’ outfits that are often colourful, handmade with intricate beadwork, and rich with cultural meaning.

Ms. Betty explains that there many kinds of Pow Wows, each with its own meaning. “The one we have followed is the traditional Pow Wow, passed down from the Kehteyah (The Old Ones). We have always followed the old way,” she says. “That means proving food, supporting our drummers and dancers, and offering an honorarium-money that is exchanged as a way of nourishing and supporting our families.” 

Every Pow Wow has a theme. The Pow Wow's website states: “This year’s theme, Nehiyaw Pimatisiwin - Indigenous Way of Life, emphasizes the importance of preserving, living, and passing on Indigenous culture, language, and traditions to future generations.”

The Pow Wow always happens the Saturday before Mother's Day. This was a purposeful decision on the part of the organizers, many of whom have been involved with the Pow Wow since its inception. “We have a very special time just after dinner to honour our life givers, our mothers,” says Ms. Betty.

Ms. Betty hopes that the Pow Wow continues to be an event of togetherness, learning, and peace. “People come to visit old friends and make new ones, to have fun, laugh, share and tell stories. We eat together. It’s about coming together and supporting Indigenous history,” she says. 

“There's a lot of non-Indigenous people who come, too.  And even our Indigenous people-those who grew up in foster homes, or were a part of the Sixties Scoop, they are finding their way back. For them, this is a step towards learning who they are, and what Nation they come from. Sometimes they're just coming for themselves to learn more, because as a people, we must learn from one another for us to have peace when we're not afraid of one another.”

The Pow Wow Grand Entry happens at 1 p.m. “When you see people coming in through that grand entry, when the first part of the Pow Wow starts and you hear that first drum beat, it's like you go back as a little being within your mother's womb, and you hear that heartbeat, and then that carries you all the way through that heartbeat of Mother Earth,” says Ms. Betty.

The Pow Wow is made possible with support from the City of Edmonton, Edmonton Catholic Schools, and Ben Calf Robe Society. Ms. Betty emphasizes that while the event “does not have a lot of funds, we share what we have. So, if I have a piece of bread and you are hungry, I will give you half of that bread. So that's our motto, is continuing to come and bring your children and your families and all your people that you can bring - bring them, and we'll learn together.”

Paula E. Kirman is the Editor of Boyle McCauley News.