Dapinawaise, I’m grateful to share some information on our TLSN Feast.  

I acknowledge the bright hot day it was in the southern part of our beautiful Treaty 4 area, the land of the Cree, Saulteax (Nakawa), Lakota, Dakota, Nakota, and Métis. I acknowledge too the settlers from these areas and different parts of these Treaty lands. 

This sacred Feast was for our ancestors – First Nations, Métis, and settlers – with respect, in the spirit and intent of Treaty.  

The tobacco I was offered to prepare the food for the Feast is protocol. One of our sacred medicines, it gives me the okay to do the Feast, hear the request and prayers, to be humble and thankful, and to do it with truth and honour. 

All who came to share in this ceremony, our Feast, participated whole heartedly. It was a positive and successful day of honouring for everyone. This has been our natural law from the beginning of time.

Thank you ranchers, Mark and Laura and family, for your great and kind hospitality in welcoming us to use your ranch land and yard for the ceremony, which was enjoyed and respected by all who attended.

 The day fell into place as if it had been rehearsed for hours. It wasn’t. The roles of everyone there were nicely tasked, at the moment required, with satisfaction and great respect. Everyone was able to work together in a good balanced way - men, women, older ones, younger ones, everyone did something. I had no idea I would be blessed with so many hands that were so ready to work. It was a beautiful time. There was a calming feeling being there. Everyone was meant to be there. I thank you all very much, and wish you all the best in your future endeavours, as well as those who were not able to attend. Ka kina Ki Nanakomininim.

This celebration came to reality upon receiving a message at a gathering of the TLSN Indigenous Advisor Circle at Wanuskewin. A strong spiritual presence was felt there. After respectful dialogue among the Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and TLSN committee members, it was decided that a Feast would be done with respected Cree Elder and Pipe Carrier Larry Oakes. Larry would be responsible for the blessing of the Feast and food, and to have his Scapaas (helpers) come out.

I prepared the Feast according to my Nakawa teachings and natural law, taught to me by my Kokum (born in 1881 and passed in 1974). I had my helpers, my husband Buck and his sister Joeanne, both Métis. Michelle Brass was of great help, sharing information and helping with preparations. Elder Nina Wilson nicely explained the different protocols around the serving of food. Valerie Zink, a great organizer, kind and respectful, did very well. 

There were teachings and protocol to follow for everyone, which fell into place: 

Firstly, attend the Feast with respect, a clean mind, and a good, caring, understanding heart. Understand and respect the ways of others. Listen, observe, and learn.

Women on their moon times – a sacred time of their own – stay away from the food preparations and prayer to bless the food. This is a powerful time for women that can interfere with the sacredness of the ceremony. It’s not a time of being unclean, but rather a time of power to honour, and must be respected at all times. 

Women are asked to wear skirts, and if one doesn’t have a skirt, then use a light blanket to cover during the ceremony. Skirts are worn when picking medicines as well. Women walk over the lands where medicines grow, and they get the blessing of good health.

When preparing the food for the feast, anything dropped must be placed aside and burned after the feast. Everything must be clean as respected as this food and tea is for our ancestors as they come from the spirit world. All garbage is burnt and not discarded just anywhere.

A Feast is for the spirits, from us humans here on earth. All food is carried to the centre of the Feast area by men only. There are different rules and roles for women and men during these ceremonies. 

The food prepared was seven huge pots of soup – beef and wild meat – berries, and tea, prepared outdoors on an open fire. There was baked bannock and fried bannock as well, other mixed fruits, cookies and crackers, candies, and contributions of baked goods, beans, and pastries that were given out to all participants. The food left over was served and shared. 

Serving of food is done by Scapaas. No one is to refuse the food. It can be given to someone else to eat, but one must at least have a taste. After the food has been blessed by the Elder, he instructs when to begin to eat.

This day was a reality that people can work together in a nice way. Elder Pipe Carrier Larry was unable to attend due to becoming ill the day before. He was able to call on another Pipe Carrier, Alvin Francis, who came out to fill the sacred position. Larry’s son Logan came to help the Pipe Carrier, which went very well. Robert fell into the role of head Scapaa (helper), teaching the other Scapaas as they filled this role. All went very well. 

The Feast preparations, blessing, and teachings, went very well, with the different nations and ranchers. There is a great deal of work involved, always respected as our spiritual and sacred way of life. 

Truth and reconciliation was recognized this day with the sharing of ceremony, and by going out to the land to share plants and medicines. 

I am sharing from my Saulteaux and Nakawa way of teaching, my traditions and culture, which I truly respect and honour. Dapinawaise, mequatch. 

My spirit names,

Eque is putinang api ka na wupamat weechi anishinabec

Asini anaqwut kiisic

Knowledge Keeper Shirley Wolfe-Keller is a Saulteaux Nakawe woman from Fishing Lake First Nation. She was raised in a traditional lifestyle and is passionate about treaties and traditional knowledge, values, and culture. She is a member of the TLSN's Coordinating Committee.