You are
invited to the Treaty Four Traditional Feast, Monday, September 14, 2015, 12:00
noon at the powwow grounds.
Never been to a
Traditional Feast? Here's what you need to know:
·
Bring some food to share. One of the
following would be great: soup, fruit, bannock, juice boxes (please deliver by
11:45).
·
Bring a feast kit: carry away bag,
multiple size plastic containers or jars with lids (for eating and take away),
spoon, fork, knife, serviettes, plate, wipes if you like.
·
Blanket to sit on.
·
Women, wear long skirts or wrap around
and do not sit crossed legged, but with knees to the side.
·
Selected young men will serve the food
until it is all distributed.
·
Women sit together and men sit
together.
·
Women on their cycle (moon time) are
asked to sit outside the circle to respect their power.
If you have
questions, contact Wendall Starr, 306.581.7827
If you have questions
that I can answer (from a newcomer’s or educator’s perspective), feel free to
email me, sheena.koops@pvsd.ca
Please see attached
Protocol Sheet developed by the organizers of the Okanese Community Feast to
remember children who died while attending File Hills Indian Residential School
(1889-1949). Used with permission from Sharron Bodnaryk.
Invitation sent in
consultation with Tracy Buffalo.
Community
Feast
Note: Different places have different protocols. These
are particular to Okanese.
What
To Wear and What to Bring
Women should wear a long skirt, or a shawl or blanket if wearing
pants. Men should wear long pants.
This year (2015) everyone has been asked to please bring a gift for
the give away (unwrapped). This may
be anything from a blanket or towel to socks, tea towel, tupperware etc.
Please bring a blanket to sit on. Most people sit on the ground except
the very elderly or infirm. Bring a lawn chair if you need this support.
(Feasts can last a few hours).
Bring a tea towel for your Tupperware…you will need 3 or 4 tupperware
containers and a few Ziploc bags to take food home with you, you may also wish
to bring a bowl or two and a cup, as well as a spoon and salt and pepper. You
are expected to accept all the food you are offered, to take home what you do
not eat, and to eat it at home.
Typical feast foods include bear grease (or some kind of shortening or
fat) to prepare the stomach for the food, wild berries (often stewed) or fruit,
salmon and corn, soup made from wild meats, wild meat, bannock, crackers,
sometimes tea. Other foods I have seen at feasts include any kind of soup
(hamburger, chicken), cake, cookies, rice krispie squares, juice boxes, wild
meat, raisin boxes, whole fruit such as bananas, apples, oranges, soft
drinks…and candy (usually wrapped), which of course the kids love.
Please
bring a food gift.
A stock pot of soup (bring ladle). Mark both with wool of the same
colour. Chicken soup or hamburger soup is appreciated. If you have wild meats,
these are most appreciated. Salt is usually not added to the soup pot, go slow
on onions and garlic.
Other ideas - a few boxes of crackers or bags or boxes of
of fruit or wrapped candy. Cookies or cake is appreciated. If you have a large
container full of juice or iced tea that is great. (Children love the wrapped
candy at the end of the Feast). If you are preparing food, do so in a loving
manner and do not taste the food before you bring it. If you are wondering how
much to bring, please err on the side of generosity. A young man will take the
food gift from you when you arrive.
When
you arrive
Please give your food to one of
the male helpers who will put it with the feast foods in the centre. These helpers will be responsible for serving
the entire feast. Women and girls sit on one side of the circle and men and
boys sit on the other.
The feast does not properly begin until prayers have been offered and
the food has been blessed. This can take quite a while. Sometimes everyone
present is smudged. During prayers or smudging, please be quiet and remove your
glasses and metal jewelry. Once the food has been blessed and elders have
sampled the different kinds of food, the helpers will begin to serve the food.
You cannot refuse food. Eat what you can, enjoy your neighbours, and pack the
rest away in your Tupperware.
The feast is not over until the pipe has been put down, or until
speeches have been made and the Elders have closed with a prayer.
Women and
Menstruation
If you are having your period (moon time), refrain from preparing
food. You may be present but are asked to sit outside the circle.
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