Youth Given Pointers On Round Dances

Youth Given Pointers On Round Dances

Monday, December 15, 2008 at 13:27

 

 

Officials at Sakewew High School in North Battleford say many young Aboriginal people don’t know the protocol for round dances.

 

So they held a conference on Friday to teach them about that aspect of First Nations culture.

 

Ron Thunder, an elder at the high school, cited several examples of straying from Aboriginal tradition.

 

For one thing, he said people shouldn’t clap after elders speak.

 

He said that’s a tradition in the non-Native world — not the Aboriginal one.

 

He also said people shouldn’t take notes when things like round dance protocol are described, because it’s sacred.

 

Thunder said many young people also don’t take the drum seriously.

 

Not surprisingly, the conference concluded with a round dance.