4:30 pm: Pipe Ceremony

5:00 pm: Feast

The round dance is a social gathering of communities that occurs during the winter months to honour, celebrate, and memorialize. Individuals will travel long distances for this traditional social dance. This gathering is an interaction between the community and police officers in a traditional setting to demonstrate the Service’s willingness to take part in, and understand the traditional values of the First Nation community.

Round dances begin with a pipe ceremony which includes the blessing of the feast. The pipe’s significance is that it represents major group gatherings where Elders preside. Our Round Dance had both a male and female pipe ceremony where Elders performed the ceremony and accompanying prayers. Those present may join them in smoking the pipe. A feast follows the pipe ceremony and generally includes traditional foods such as soup, bannock, and berries.

Songs that accompany the round dance are filled with humour and good feelings, most songs feature elevated vocals and the hand drum. However, there are more serious ceremonial honour songs at certain points through the evening such as before and during the give-away. Dancers will stand shoulder to shoulder, hold hands, and dance clockwise using a side step with the beat of the drums, swinging their joined hands as they dance. Dancers will continue to participate and circles of dancers will be created around the singers. These circles are a magnificent show of community and harmony.