Muscowpetung honours the past and celebrates the future

Muscowpetung Saulteaux Nation is not only celebrating the 150^th anniversary of Treaty 4, but also honouring its original leader – Chief Cheekuk – in a major wa with a week-long celebration called Cheekuk Days. .

It kicked off on Sunday with a quad rally and on Tuesday it hosted its first powwow in its new arbor.

Muscowpetung Saulteaux is also officially moving towards a new name: Cheekuk Anishinaabe Nation.

“Chief Cheekuk was a very influential leader and had a lot of followers who looked to him for guidance. He was instrumental in helping other Treaty areas create their treaties as well,” said Chief Melissa Tavita.

“We’re bringing the name change to honour and let people know who our original Chief was.”

After Muscowpetung conducted research into the history of their original Chief and impact on their nation, they consulted members and Elders, who endorsed the name change.

“After a lot of discussions, our members wanted to be referred to as Anishinaabe people, not Saulteaux, as Saulteaux was given to us from the white man. And our Elder requested we go back to Cheekuk,” said Tavita.

“It’s been a long time coming.”

The name change will acknowledgement will take place during the Cheekuk Days celebration.

“It’s 150 years so we want to make it a big thing. We want all of our members to be able to come and connect with their community,” said Tavita.

Cheekuk Days will also include a significant re-uniting of many of their members with their home first nation for their first time. The event will include a ‘bringing the children/members back home’ initiative, in which the first nation has arranged for members across Canada and the United States, including children in care, to come to Cheekuk Days.

There will be a large celebration welcoming the returning members back home. As well as a tree planting ceremony, where each of the returning members will be invited to plant a tree in the community.

“Some kids don’t have a connection with our nation. This is their roots, their culture and identity. We want them to know they are appreciated and honoured and have a connection to our reserve,” said Chief Tavita.

“We are doing the tree planting ceremony so that when they come back home in 20 to 30 years, they can say ‘this is where my roots are’,” she said.

In an added demonstration of inclusion, the festival organizers ensured the celebration would be diverse in order to appeal to anyone.

Each day starts with a pipe ceremony, as well as hide scraping and drum making throughout the day

On Monday, the opening ceremonies include a keynote address from FSIN Vice-Chief David Pratt. The day will also include 2SLGBTQQIA+ Awareness with Prestin Thotin-Awasis and Jordy Ironstar, as well as entertainment from Conway Kootenay.

On Tuesday, a breakfast is followed by keynote and meet & greet with Ted Nolan. Activities include tradtional art, youth and children activities, and entertainment by Arianna Faithful, Kyran Ried and Running River Band, and C-Weed Band.

Wednesday has the powwow, traditional art, and youth activities, as well as entertainment from Dependable Voice and SupaMan.

On Thursday, NHL legend Theo Fleury will have a keynote and meet & greet, then proceed to join the golfers at Flowing Springs golf course. Self care activities and make up tutorial will be offered, as well as a done show and entertainment from Joey Stylez, Okema, Cody Johnson.

Friday has Muscowpetung history, a hypnotist, Elders’ only bingo, fireworks, and a dance with Armond Duck Chief.

O Saturday, entertainment from Chelsie Young, Terrie-Anne Strongarm, and Charlie Major, followed by a dance with Tyler Two Guns Band will close out the celebration.

“It’s important to give our nation that sense of pride in our community and our leadership. We hope everyone, including those returning home to our First Nation for the first time, get a sense of who they are and their culture here,” said Amber Memnook, co-ordinator of Cheekuk Days.

Chief Tavita said that all people, both members and non, will be welcome to participate in the celebration. She hopes the events can be therapeutic for those that need it.

“Anyone who wants to celebrate our culture is welcome to come out. This is something that we’re proud of and we want people to dance. Dancing is part of healing for our people, as is laughter,” said Tavita.

“We’re open to everyone because that’s the type of people we are.”