What began as a passion project for a summer student working at the museum in Indian Head, Saskatchewan, is set to become an educational tool.

Nevaeh Stevenson of the Keeseekoose First Nation said she didn’t know what to focus on during her museum visit in the city about 70 kilometres east of Regina, but as she looked around the museum, she noticed that First Nations cultures were missing.

Stevenson decided to develop a “culture in a suitcase” teaching aid.

“My goal was to teach people more about powwows,” Stevenson said.

“People jump to conclusions and many have stereotypes about powwow dancing.”

Stevenson said some people don’t understand that each dance has a different meaning. There are many different teachings when it comes to powwow dancing, and each nation has different stories behind the dances, songs and drums.

“At powwows everything is kind of similar, but there are also differences,” she said.

She went to the Cega’kin Nakoda powwow at Carry the Kettle First Nation to learn about the dances and songs from the elders, dancers and singers.

What particularly caught Stevenson’s attention was the women’s unusual dance.

“There are so many tribes and so many different stories about this unusual dance and how it came about,” she said.

“Some people may think that (women’s dance) is a representation of the butterfly dance or the warrior dance, but actually it represents the women of the time who wanted to dance like the men because women were not allowed to dance inside the circle. They were only allowed to dance outside the circle once.”

Stevenson said it all started with women putting on the men’s fancy dance costumes and dancing with them. Sometimes they even danced better than the men because they were faster and lighter on their feet.

She compiled everything she learned and built a small powwow gazebo to match the brochure in her culture kit.

“I hope people actually learn about it and interact with it,” she said.

“I hope it has a voice and speaks to them… It’s my culture box, it carries my people, it carries my knowledge and I just wanted to put it out there.”

Cases go to schools

Robyn Jensen, vice president of the Indian Head Museum, said each year summer students are asked to take on a passion project.

“It’s what happens in their imagination,” she said.

“We want to leave it open to students because it’s really important for youth to have a voice in our museum, and I think a lot of people underestimate the power and ingenuity of young people.”

Jenson said the cultural showcases – another summer student is making one about the Filipino community – would stay in the schools over the winter and then return to the museum for display in the summer.