I know a lot us on here love pow wow culture and participate by dancing, drumming or just enjoying from the sidelines. However, not everyone is lucky enough to be exposed to the beauty of the pow wow. A dance performance company based in Canada helps bring a cultural awareness program to urban youth and others who might not have had the chance to learn about the pow wow circle, or were too nervous to try.
Based in Calgary, AB, Canada, nonprofit Wandering Spirit offers various cultural programs to urban aboriginal youth, families, companies, schools and also hosts a “Honoring Our Children” initiation pow wow. Since 1999, the dance portion of this group has grown, expanded and developed into a full on company standing on its own as “Thundering Nations International”. Thundering Nations International performs numerous cultural awareness dance presentations at schools, community events, corporate functions, festivals. Thundering Nations is comprised of professional pow wow dancers of all styles as well as several hip hop and Cuban dancers.
They are now preparing a new dance production for September 2015 called “History for the Future”. “History for the Future” will use new media to capture the beauty of traditional art forms, the teachings of our elders and the humor of our people.
Executive Director Jackie Soppit grew up away from her culture, having been adopted into a non native home. She knows the value and importance of learning her culture and the impact it had on her life when it wasn't there. As a teenager she spiraled down a road of destruction until she was introduced to the pow wow circle. This was where she began a life long journey learning about culture and now she feels it’s her life work to continue on these sacred, powerful teachings to those who are living without it. Both Thundering Nations International ltd., and Wandering Spirit Native Awareness Ltd. are grass roots companies whose values come straight from our elders knowledge keepers’ to always maintain the purity of the teachings, integral to the continuation of our beautiful culture.
For more information please on how you can get Thundering Nations to visit your event, contact their office at (403) 614–3721, via Email: [email protected] or visit their website: www.wanderingspirit2014.com.
