Photo of Jr. Chicken Dancer from Siksika
There are many social dances that are seen at Pow Wows across Canada, and many have their own meaning to them.
Some of the most practiced styles for both men and woman are Traditional, Fancy, Jingle and Grass. While the Jingle dress dance is Ojibway in origin, the Prairie Chicken Dance style is a unique style that originated in the Blackfoot Siksika Nation.
Siksika Knowledge Keeper Eldon Weasel Child shares with CJWE the history of the Prairie Chicken Dance.
The last World Prairie Chicken Dance was held at the Blackfoot Crossing Museum as a soft reopening to the Championship after a absences during the COVID-19 Pandemic. This year marked the Championship’s return to the Piiksapi Memorial Arbour.
During Indigenous dance competitions, dancers are judged on them over all performance, footwork, and regalia. The World Chicken Dance Championship was broken down into five different categorizes:
- Junior boys 7-12
- Teen 13-17
- Adults 18-35
- Adults 36-55
- Golden Age 55+
Each category does three go arounds, and each go around will have a set number of dances. At the World Chicken Dance Championship, first go around had two songs while the second and third go around had three songs each.
Photo of James Jones dancing Chicken Dance Style
Photo of Jr. Boy chicken Dancer
In between each go around, a headdress transfer took place to honor members of the community for their outstanding work in which in turn enriched their community. When the honored are chosen, they are not told they will be transferred a headdress.
Photo of Siksika Elders and Windspeaker Media CEO Bert Crowfoot (middle)
In Blackfoot Culture, the recipients of headdresses are not told and are only made aware of being chosen during a ceremony where an elder comes to them and leads them to the bison blanket where they are told the stories of how the eagle feathers that make up the headdress where obtained.
After the ceremony, the recipient and their family are blessed with an honor song.
Through out the long weekend, a Pow Wow and Siksika Nation Fair will be taking place in Siksika.
See photos from the event below.
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