The Canim Lake Band elders enjoyed their annual spa day on Feb. 4.
Rise Angus and Grace Archie welcomed visitors at the door. Booths and screened areas were set up around the gym where several wellness facilitators helped to soothe winter aches and pains.
One table displayed architectural drawings showing two possible sites for a new health centre to be built at the reserve. Residents are being given the opportunity to help choose a site and Oshen Frank was on hand to explain the advantages of both sites.
An excellent lunch was prepared by Nicole Wycotte and Shawna Christopher.
Of special interest this year were the dream catchers and ceremonial eagle feathers that several elders were making with instructors Virginia Archie and Fiona Frank.
Virginia has developed her own unusual form of dream catcher, with a leather panel in the middle where a photo can be placed to honour a person or a special occasion.
“In the centre of this dream catcher is my nephew Patrick Reilly,” she explained.
“I made it for the ceremony that will welcome him to the Powwow Circle. It is made in the colours he chose for the regalia his mother made for him to wear at the ceremony.”
Virginia’s dream catchers are effective, she added, because she makes them by candlelight.
“While I work, I think good dreams for the person. For Patrick, I thought, ‘he will be a good dancer’. I make them in all sizes and I like to make them for a special reason so it’s personal.”
Fiona was demonstrating how to wrap eagle feather quills with beads, to be used in ceremonies. Her beautiful, delicate beadwork is displayed nearby.
“My grandmother taught me to do this as soon as I could walk and talk,” Fiona explained.
“Now, I am making beaded bands for cowboy hats. I dream a pattern and then make it in beads the next day.
“Eagle feathers can only be given away, never sold, just as sweet grass and sage cannot be sold. Even moose and deer meat should not be sold, as they are our traditional food.”
Spa organizer Shirley Fraser, Elders Centre co-ordinator, noted 64 people took part in the spa. If smiles all around are any indication, it was a perfect way to spend a winter day.