SCIT Round Dance starts tonight! 3-11-16
3/11/2016 1:00:00 PM - Tribal Observer

In an effort to provide bonus coverage, Team Observer will be on site for the SCIT Round Dance in the Eagles Nest Tribal Gym starting at 5:30 pm Friday March 11 and Saturday, March 12.   The Saginaw Chippewa Round Dance has built a reputation for hosting one of the premier Round Dances in the Great Lakes area. 

What makes it so great are the Invited Singer from all across Turtle Island.  Tribal Elder and Team Observer Contributing writer Charmaine Benz offers a heartfelt tribute and an explanation of what the round dance means to her that will be published in the April issue.   This year provides another great line up so come out and join in the celebration this weekend … MiigwetchJ!

The Round Dance and Waas No Deh (The Northern Lights)

By Observer Contributing Writer Charmaine Shawana

My sister Mercedes died in December 2007. She was way too young to die. It was some type of liver disease. I, myself, believe it was the Tylenol.

I was in Canada at the time, learning the language from some of the elders and community members on Manitoulin Island. She asked me to come home and help take care of her which I did. She was dead within six weeks.

It was hard on everyone. It was just before Christmas. It was a terrible tragedy. We were all in shock. How could that have happened to someone so alive, so vibrant? It was incomprehensible. I know we are all still wondering how could it have happened.

I told myself that I wanted to grieve. I took some time to be by myself. I stayed alone at my house; reading, writing, and watching TV. I tried to stay by myself, trying to comprehend the awfulness of what happened.

She was not only my sister, but my best friend. I still feel envious sometimes when I see some families with lots of sisters and wish I hadn’t lost mine.

I stayed at home alone that winter, trying to make sense of the horrible act that had just happened. It has been nine years but sometimes it feels like it just happened.  My dad would come and check on me every day. He would read the paper and I would sit there with him. Life goes on, I was told. I tried not to let the grief consume me.

Then I heard about the round dance. I looked forward to getting out of the house, and seeing everyone again. It wasn’t quite winter because we’d gotten a few warm breezes, and it wasn’t warm enough to call it spring yet. It was kind of in-between. Never the less I made it out.

Magical is the only way I could describe it. It was so nice to get out of the house.  A friend of mine made Baby Dave a ribbon shirt and she wanted to give it to him there. He wore it with pride.

We were all together again, sitting there listening to the drums and visiting. It felt good to be out. It felt good to see each other and visit with friends. For some odd reason, it felt like a new beginning.

We are told when we see the Northern Lights, they are our ancestors dancing in the sky. They are so happy to see us. It has significance for us today though.

We are told we are all related, and that the Round Dance is a healing and happy time. The music brings us together in our common heritage and ancestry. We dance together, for each other, and our families.

Our people, one tribe, we are all one… we are all related…

Ni con ni gah na

(A special ceremony to honor those who have walked on is scheduled for Saturday evening around 11pm)