Bison feast honours indigenous culture amid HIV ‘storm’

A teepee in the middle of a city street is not a common sight, so it drew a lot of attention in North Central on Wednesday.

All Nations Hope (ANH) hosted its third annual Bison Feast and a section of 5th Avenue was blocked off for the event.

Margaret Poitras, CEO of ANH, said the bison feast is an ancient ceremony the organization has revived. It is to feed the people physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually.

The day began with a pipe ceremony followed by a grand entry, guest speakers, food, powwow demonstrations and family activities.

“We are asking for prayers for the people,” said Poitras about the event.

She believes those previous prayers are slowly being answered, particularly with Saskatchewan doctors saying the province’s HIV rates are at a critical level and calling on the government to declare a state of emergency.

“This morning, (our prayers) were that, we will begin to acknowledge the work that needs to happen among indigenous people who support people — those living with HIV and AIDS — so we could begin to indigenize some of the agencies, systems and institutions that are providing care, treatment and support for indigenous people,” said Poitras.

For years, ANH has been hoping its allies would take a stronger stance against the disease.

“I think (the doctors) have a concern,” said Poitras. “(For them) to say, ‘That’s enough now. We need to find ways of working with indigenous people’ They are tired of what’s going on so, they stood together and said, ‘This is what needs to happen.’ ”

Poitras said ANH holds the indigenous strategy on HIV/AIDS and it’s great to now have the support of Saskatchewan doctors moving forward.

“It sheds light on what we have been saying for years,” she said.

“It also sheds light on ceremonies like (the bison feast), which needs to happen in every urban setting in the province.

Krista Shore, HIV knowledge keeper, said it was an emotional day for her as she shared not only her story, but her hope for the future.

She said there is nothing more powerful than ceremony in the indigenous community and is happy ANH has made it a priority.

Shore said the bison feast is needed by the community. “Culture saves lives,” she said. To Shore, the buffalo symbolizes strength and it’s fitting ANH is reviving the ancient ceremony and bringing it to the people.

She shared a story she was told about how during a storm all the animals will seek shelter, but not the buffalo, which will charge forward even through the most violent storms.

“That’s basically what we are facing in indigenous communities across Saskatchewan — a storm with HIV,” said Shore.

She said HIV is not a death sentence and work needs to be done to eliminate that stigma and begin working together for a brighter future for everyone.

Shore believes the first step in creating that change is through ceremony and by embracing First Nations culture.