After 80 years, the Cree community of Kahkewistahaw First Nation revived the tea dance during their week-long traditional gathering earlier this month. The tea dance, once banned under the Indian Act, was taught by Ken Saddleback, a lodge keeper from the Samson Cree Nation. Originally called the “drunk dance,” it’s a lively, carefree dance meant to make people laugh and to symbolically ward off sickness, as a vision from a grandmother predicted illness would come with outsiders. The dance is part of Saddleback’s efforts to restore Indigenous cultural practices that were suppressed for generations.
Saddleback, who teaches multiple dances to promote healing, emphasized the importance of reconnecting with culture, spirituality, and language. Josephine Kaysaywaysemat, the community’s health director, has worked to make language and culture a priority in health, spearheading the gathering that included various dances and ceremonies. She hopes the revival of the tea dance and other traditions like the ghost and horse dances will inspire future generations.
Kaysaywaysemat believes the dances foster a sense of pride and identity, offering hope and healing for the community. She envisions more participation in the future, helping families transform negativity into positive change.
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