Square dancing a hit in KO communities

Square dancing was a hit during the Keewaytinook Okimakanak Secondary School Services square dancing club’s Feb. 24-28 tour of Pelican Falls and four KO communities.
“It was great — they enjoyed watching us perform,” said Ricky Bushie, a Grade 11-12 Dennis Franklin Cromarty First Nations High School student from Poplar Hill. “Even my grandpa was there too. He was proud and he said it was one hell of a show.”
Bushie shared his feelings during the tour about his brother Reggie, who passed away while attending DFC in 2007. Robyn Harper’s mother also spoke about her daughter, who also passed away in 2007 while attending DFC.
“I knew her (Robyn),” Bushie said. “I went to school with her back then at Northern Eagle High School. I could tell my feelings too, what she (Robyn’s mother) was talking about. That kind of got to me. I blame myself but some people (tell me) it is not my fault.”
The square dancing club visited Pelican Falls First Nations High School on Feb. 24, Poplar Hill on Feb. 25, North Spirit Lake on Feb. 26, Deer Lake on Feb. 27 and Keewaywin on Feb. 28.
“It was a very good visit,” said Keewaywin Councillor Jason Kakegamic. “It left a really good feeling with the community. They seemed to join in as they watched.”
Kakegamic said each square dancer picked one person from the crowd to dance with at the end of the performance.
“They were showing them the two-step,” Kakegamic said. “Three students out of the dance group shared their personal struggles and how square dancing kind of encouraged them in their own personal life.”
Kakegamic even overheard a teenager from the community saying he should start square dancing.
“One father was feeling pretty proud of his daughter,” Kakegamic said.
Bushie said the group had some trouble with the van they rented for the tour, including a flat tire.
“We called it the bad-luck van,” Bushie said. “It went into the ditch three times too.”
But Bushie also met some old friends on the tour that he hadn’t seen for some time.
Kyle Skead, a Grade 9 DFC student from North Spirit Lake, was impressed with the reaction from his own family and community.
“They really liked it and they liked the message we sent to the younger kids,” Skead said. “I haven’t been there for seven years so it was a nice surprise for them.”
Skead joined the square dancing club in November after he was asked by Goyce Kakegamic, education coordinator with KOSSS and his grandmother’s brother.
“I didn’t think much of it at first but when I started getting more involved in it, I really liked it,” Skead said.
Although Bushie didn’t join the square dancing club the first and second time he was asked, he eventually joined and hasn’t looked back.
“That’s when I started doing activities,” Bushie said. “I go to counselling — I need help with my drinking addictions. It keeps me away from alcohol and stuff.”
The square dancing club usually meets twice a week to practice their moves.
Bushie said the square dancing club is a good opportunity for students to try something new with their lives.
“Soon you’ll start to have fun if you go around to your communities to perform,” Bushie said. “You make positive friends. They don’t drink now. You stay positive with your education.”
Bushie said alcohol and drugs are “just not worth it.”
“Just say no to drugs and alcohol,” Bushie said. “It will affect everyone around you — your friends, family, even your (partner), if you have a partner like a girlfriend or a boyfriend.”
Goyce Kakegamic said the square dancing club would continue next year.