Regina library program fosters healing, community building through song and dance
CBC
A year ago, David Brass was on his usual daily excursion through Regina's downtown library branch when he heard powwow drums reverberating through the hallways.
He followed the sounds, which led him to the community common area, where the Regina Public Library's Culture Connect: Indigenous Teachings program co-ordinator extended a warm welcome.
Since then, Brass and his daughter have been attending the weekly drop-in sessions, where they discovered a compassionate and welcoming community that makes them feel accepted. Brass said his daughter is thriving in the program.
“She loves it — the dancing, the drums. She sees her little friends here; she has friends now,” he said. “She’s here every week now, and they’ve gotten real close.”
Brass said he's also seen how the program has helped many others, including those who come by just to watch.
“I’ve seen people come in and they’ve healed and they leave differently. They seem like they leave more full,” he said. “They come in empty, bent over looking sad, but they leave full, chest up, you know, so it’s all good.”
Brass said it’s a wonderful program.
“There's healing, there's connection, there's a revitalization of tradition, culture. People get to learn about the roots of it in a comfortable, laid-back area.”
Four years ago, Phyllis Littletent and her mother created the culture connect program. It was originally started in the North Central community to help bring healing.
When her mother became ill and was no longer able to assist with the program, Littletent continued to run it. She recognized the program's healing power and its positive impact on many individuals.
“I met a lot of people who took something from this program,” said Littletent. “Either it was life changing for them, or you know, it kind of gave them back a sense of who they are.”
The weekly drop-in program offers an inclusive environment for anyone to learn about Indigenous cultural dances and songs without judgment.
A monthly mini-powwow is held to honour children, who are invited to dance with or without their regalia. This promotes inclusion and respects all children, regardless of their background.
Littletent said the program's goal is to promote healing through song and dance.
A holiday event that began in 2020 during the pandemic with three floats on pickup trucks has now become one of Kelowna’s big winter events, drawing thousands to the city’s downtown core.
WARNING: This story details allegations of child abuse.
It’s been hard to keep track of how many legal challenges and active court proceedings the United Conservative government has tried to quash or pre-emptively block in the last six weeks, but let’s try to tally:
Margaret Walker, the emcee of a Waterloo vigil commemorating the victims of the Montreal massacre, doesn't feel enough is being done to reflect on the killings and address gender-based violence.
The P.E.I. Humane Society says it is doing far more fundraising than it used to, and rising expenses — including the cost of animal medications — are a big reason why.
Ottawa is staring down a court-ordered deadline to submit a new plan to reform the on-reserve child welfare system, as a group of First Nations leaders and children’s advocates prepare a competing proposal.
An underpass revitalization project that was meant to pay tribute to the people of Parkdale has instead deteriorated into “a garbage dump,” according to nearby residents.
A young man has been charged with criminal negligence causing bodily harm after a fire at a frat party near Western University that injured five sorority sisters, including two seriously, late Tuesday night.
The massive deal to combine one of Hollywood's oldest studios with a streaming giant hasn't even been approved yet, but it's already riling multiple related industries and politicians concerned about monopolies and media concentration.
Mi'kmaq chiefs and a former Nova Scotia justice minister are criticizing the provincial government for directing police to crack down on illegal cannabis, saying the order undermines relations with Indigenous Peoples.
For years, there has been “glaring inequity” in the way the province has allocated the millions of dollars in its county roads budget, according to Department of Transportation Minister Chuck Chiasson.
Six months after passing a law aimed at making it easier for new grocery stores to open, Manitoba's premier says lower grocery bills could be on the horizon.
Timothy Smith was acting in self-defence when he punched Landon Waddell, and shouldn't be found guilty of manslaughter, his lawyer says.