Prince Albert’s Kinsmen Park played host to a new youth pow wow on Friday.

The Heart of the Youth Community Pow Wow is a showcase for youth to present their talent after finishing pow wow classes in school.

The pow wow was organized by PA Outreach.

The executive director of PA Outreach, Rhonda Durant, says many of these kids need events like this to show that people care.

“They really need encouragement, not just when they are struggling, but they also need cheerleaders when they are struggling,” said Durant.

PA Outreach works with at-risk youth in and around the Prince Albert area.

Durant says it is on days like this that all the hard work seems worth it.

“Days like this show that you just have to see those little faces and hear the jingling to know there is something powerful about this,” she said.

1500 people attended the inaugural pow wow. Youth performed from several communities including Prince Albert as well as the Muskoday, One Arrow, Beardy’s and Okemasis and Wahpeton First Nations.

(Photo by Abel Charles)