The first annual “Reclaiming Our Children” Round Dance was held at the Sevenwinds Casino Conference Center on Friday, February 8, to a packed house of 660 signed-in guests.
The event was coordinated to occur on the Friday evening prior to Bad River’s Round Dance which took place on Saturday, so that both events could attract the same guests from far and wide.
LCO Vice Chairman, Jason Schlender, said the LCO Round Dance was extremely successful with over 660 people in attendance.
“The success provides a boost to the community by filling up hotels, motels, restaurants, and the casino,” Schlender said. “The casino said the food and beverage was off the charts
and the coin-in was great. The lodge was full and so were hotels in Hayward.”
Schlender said the initial reason came about when the tribal council was talking about breaking up the monotony of the long winter. He mentioned there used to be a mid-winter feast or get-together, but we wanted to have something else going on as well.
“The LCO Round Dance Committee was dedicated to coordinating an event that could positively bring the community together,” Schlender said. “There was a significant fundraising campaign and the committee is extremely grateful for all the contributions from local businesses and tribal programs and vendors that made this event a success. Some of the committee personally made gifts for the singers and others did their part in contributing to the Round Dance.”
Schlender noted originally the tribal council was going to pay for the event but then the partial government shutdown happened, “And we decided we couldn’t justify paying for it. The council asked if I could raise the money through business and vendor contributions, which we did thanks to a lot of generous people in our community.”
The Round Dance will be an annual event going forward with next year’s event scheduled for Feb. 7, added Schlender.
The round dance comes from the Cree people. It’s a ceremonial dance that uses small hand drums and a different beat than contemporary pow-wows.
“The style of dance is unique as well which makes it different from a pow-wow where a big drum is used,” Schlender explained. “Powwows and some round have become more social dances that feature exhibition dancing and singing. Pow-wows also feature different types of regalia and protocol. There are ceremonial significances that should not be disclosed publicly unless tobacco and gifts have been rendered first.”
Schlender said there were special family memorials and dance specials in honor of relatives that have passed on and many of these were spot dances or categories like best applique skirts or best moves.
The LCO Round Dance Committee would like to thank the following: Lac Courte Oreilles Tribal Governing Board, Lac Courte Oreilles Financial Services, Rosette, LLP, Woodstone, Inc., Chippewa Valley Bank, Hogan Adams, Sevenwinds Casino Lodge and Conference Center, Peoples Bank Midwest, Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, Coops Pizza, Hayward Power Sports, Timber Ford, LCO Ojibwe School, Waadookodaading Ojibwe Language Institute, Makazin Pathways, LCO Head Start, LCO Housing Authority, Riverbrook Bike & Ski. Most of all we extend a sincere miigwech to all of the attendees and singers who traveled many miles after a blizzard to make this event a success.
Here is a list of winners;
Adult Hand Drum: Red Deer Table, Polar Vortex, Way-ya-hay-yas; Adult Back up: Sarah Pyawasit, Coral Benton, Dez Denomie; Youth Hand Drum: Hay Creek, Noisey Boyz, Sav Nation; Youth Back up: Lexie Sullivan, Gigi, The Ladies.
There were also many raffle prizes as well;
Youth Raffle: PS4: Baylee Butler; Xbox One X: Marsha LaCapa; Adult Raffle: Outdoor fireplace: Dave Dennis; Marlin 6 Trek Mountain Bike (womens): Wyatt Thayer; Marlin 5 Trek Mountain Bike (men): MacKenzie Cadotte; Eskimo 949i Portable Ice Shack: Ed Potack; 2003 Ski-Doo MXZ 800: Gary Quaderer Sr.; 50/50 Raffle: Dawn Kagigebi.
