The Round Dance ceremony illustrates the Cree philosophy of death and the relationship between us and the Spirits. The Northern Lights are said to be our relations that have passed on. The Elders say that the people that have passed on come to dance with us at the Round Dance; in that respect our relatives are always here with us. The Round Dance was a healing ceremony that became a social dance for our people and a dance that is held in the winter season. From the first tuning of the hand drums (by way of fire), to the fun of meeting old friends and making new ones, a Round Dance is for everyone: children, friends, families, youth, and Elders.
In this dance, people move like the Northern Lights in an up and down motion as they dance around the drum. We join hands in a circle and dance clockwise with the drum and singers sitting in the middle. The beat of the drum is like the heartbeat of the community and all members move as one. This is also a time to swap stories, catch up on the latest news, break bannock and share some tea — and even better, to hear both the old and new songs sung by your favorite singers. It’s a time to honor traditions and memories of our ancestors dancing around their starry campfires, flickering against the dark blanket of the night sky.
This Round Dance was held January 29, 2010, in Dinwoodie Lounge on campus. Click on each picture to enlarge.
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- Lots of Native foods to feast on before the Dance.
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- Bannock!
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- I had to add this. Kids stopping to gracefully pose for the camera.
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- More drumming.
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- Helping the kids keep the beat
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- Having fun in the circle
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- Children joined in, too!
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- Drums for the circle
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- Drummers keeping the rhythm.
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- Native Elder in attendance
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- Joining hands for traditional dancing
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