Interest in traditional Aboriginal dance appears to be growing. At least that’s how it appears to Peter Auger, spokesman for Spiritchild Dancers in Slave Lake.
Just returned from a guest appearance on a talk show on APTN – the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network, he says that appearance has sparked yet another invitation for his family group to perform – this time in Juno, Alaska at that city’s celebrations in June.
Spiritchild has already agreed to perform at the Arctic Winter Games in Alaska in 2006 – the group’s third performance at those northern Games, and now Peter and his family will get to see Alaska – as well as some off-shore delights, thanks to their hosts on the Kinai Peninsula.
“It’s a cultural festival from June 11 to 13,” he explains, adding the event includes a day-long potlatch – or food festival.
Auger says he and his wife Adele as well as their three daughters and one son will fly from Edmonton and take a week-long holiday in conjunction with the performance.
Auger says his recent trip to Winnipeg and appearance on the talk show sparked the invitation to perform in Alaska. And it appears to be opening a number of doors for he and the Spiritchild Dancers that he and his mother started about 15 years ago.
Show reveals majority supports dancers earning cash for performances at powwows
The trip to Manitoba also proved to Auger that there’s still a deep interest in traditional dancing and powwows.
“The (caller display) boards were lit up throughout the show, and (officials) said that’s the most response they’ve ever received” when the viewing audience is invited to call in with their opinions.
Calls from Vancouver to New Brunswick flooded in when producers asked if cultural dancers should receive prize money – or payment – for their performance at powwows.
“The ‘Yes’ callers outweighed the ‘No’ (represented) about eight out of 10, saying they believe that dancers should be paid.
Some argued that it costs money to get to those performances.” Auger agrees with that assessment, adding “it’s not our intent to make money,” at powwows or other demonstrations, he says.
“We do a lot of volunteer work, and sometimes we lose money. We just want to pay for our gas and feed the dancers – to get back what we’ve spent.” He considers the invitation to Alaska – like those to other powwows – an opportunity to network, share ideas and meet new people.
“The dancers look forward to it too,” he says, because “sometimes it’s the first time they’ve worn a new dress or costume.”

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