SaskCulture
About Us
Our People
Board of Directors
Volunteers
Staff
Volunteer Peer Assessor
Our Role
Overview
History
Strategic Plan
Year in Review
Other Resources
Our Annual Events
Annual General Meeting
Programs
Funding Programs
Our Grants
Logos & Acknowledgement
Find a Grant
How to use the Online Grant Platform (OGP)
Funding Program Renewal Project
Application Assistance
Accessibility Fund
SaskCulture Programs
Creative Kids
Culture Days
Organizational Support
Indigenous Awareness Hub
Organizational Resources
Diversity and Inclusiveness
Cultural Planning
Nonprofit Lifecycles
Consultant Directory
SaskCulture Respect Resource Line
Impact
Our Reach
Success Stories
iheartculture.ca
What is Culture?
Cultural Benefits
E-Update
News
Careers in Culture
Important and Commemorative Days
Network
Members
Member Benefits
Member Directory
Become a Member
Membership Renewal
SaskCulture Members Say...
Bouncing Back Survey Says
Partners & Initiatives
Our Partners
Tri-Global Partnership
Resilience & Respect: Canada 150 & Beyond
Our Grants
calendar_month Events work Jobs & Opportunities menu_book Engage login Grants Login g_translate Translate
  • Our Reach
  • Success Stories
  • iheartculture.ca
  • What is Culture?
  • Cultural Benefits
  • E-Update
  • News
  • Careers in Culture
  • Important and Commemorative Days

Where are the Buffalo?

By: Buffalo People Arts Institute April, 2018
Share Tweet

In this issue

Cover of Engage Magazine Spring 2018 - A dancer in traditional garments performs in a park. Engage - Volume 8, Issue 1 Spring 2018

Cultural Areas

First Nation and Métis Specific First Nations Indigenous

Keywords

awareness cultural engagement dance hands-on interactivity performance Truth and Reconciliation

Buffalo returned to the streets of Regina last summer – in the form of a buffalo dance parade -- thanks to an initiative honouring the importance of the animal to Indigenous life on the prairies.

In 2017, the Buffalo People Arts Institute (BPAI), in partnership with New Dance Horizons and Indigenous performers, hosted a series of workshops to create, design and develop buffalo head costume pieces and choreography. The project culminated at the Queen City Exhibition Parade in Regina on August 1, with a buffalo dance parade procession to honour the spirit of the buffalo. This project was part of the Resilience & Respect: Canada 150 & Beyond partnership, supported by Canadian Heritage Canada 150 fund.

"We learn that when non-Indigenous and Indigenous people work together in a sincere partnership for a collective good, true reconciliation and healing can be attained." ~ Joely BigEagle-Kequahtooway

Joely BigEagle-Kequahtooway, project coordinator, BPAI, says, “This project was initiated to return the buffalo into the collective consciousness of the people of Regina, Saskatchewan and hopefully nationally. The Buffalo are still here alive in our spirits and alive in our ceremonies, as they will continue for millennia. Sometimes dormant, but always present. Although the Buffalo do not run wild, they still run in our hearts, minds and spirits.”

She goes on to explain that Indigenous peoples have lived amongst the buffalo for thousands of years before European colonization. Their familial connection to the buffalo was severed 150 years ago when the Canadian government implemented a policy to systemically clear the plains of buffalo to systematically remove Indigenous people from the prairies.

“The government literally wrote, ‘Kill the Buffalo, kill the Indian.’ They attempted to decimate the food source, clothing and shelter that Indigenous people has so there was nothing left for [Indigenous people] to do, but be forced on reserves begging for government rations,” she adds.

The creation of headpieces and dance movement emulating the buffalo was shared through community workshops. A week-long workshop was also held afterwards, attracting both Indigenous and non-Indigenous participants who learned about and undertook the role of the buffalo for the parade. Contemporary dance moves were incorporated with hip-hop, square dance and pow-wow movements and were dance to a buffalo honouring song. Altogether there were about 75 participants who took part throughout the project.

image

According to BigEagle-Kequahtooway, the learning and sharing of contemporary and traditional teachings between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people and artists, who worked side-by-side, contributed to this project coming to fruition. “We learned that when non-Indigenous and Indigenous people work together in a sincere partnership for a collective good, true reconciliation and healing can be attained,” she explains. “By bringing infants, youth, adults and Elder participants together, helps complete the circle of life.”

We are Treaty people

SaskCulture's work and support reaches lands covered by Treaties 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, and 10, the traditional lands of the Cree, Dakota, Dene, Lakota, Nakota and Saulteaux peoples, as well as homeland of the Métis.

We aim to be accessible and safe for everyone

Our office, including front door and washrooms, is wheelchair-accessible (building access at Cornwall Street entrance) during regular office hours. A proud supporter of safer and inclusive spaces initiatives, we are committed to a workplace free from hate, discrimination or harassment, where everyone is welcome.

Get the SaskCulture e-Update

Get the news on funding deadlines, development opportunities, job opportunities, award winners, community highlights and more.

Sign Up

Funded by

Funded by Sask Lotteries

Contact Us

  • #404, 2125 - 11th Avenue
    Regina, SK   S4P 3X3
  • info@saskculture.ca
  • (306) 780-9284
  • Office Hours:

    8:30 am - 12:00 pm
    12:30 pm - 4:00 pm

Connect with Us

Disclaimer
Design + Development: Structured Abstraction