Jingle dancer 'light and happy' as she's welcomed into circle at her 1st two-spirit powwow
CBC
Jingle dress dancer Nakeisha McDonald had to shake out the nerves as she was welcomed into the circle at her first two-spirit powwow in Winnipeg.
"I feel very light and happy, like I could just feel the happiness radiating off my body," said McDonald, who is from Pimicikamak Cree Nation in Manitoba.
McDonald, who has been dancing powwow all of her life, brought her regalia and participated in the grand entry at the mini two-spirit powwow Wednesday in Winnipeg's West Broadway neighbourhood.
"At first it feels kind of scary, but as they were bringing us all together and talking to us, I felt very welcomed, like a community, like a family. So it was very easy to get that sense of home," said McDonald.
McDonald said that, growing up on-reserve, she hasn't always felt accepted in her identity and was happy to be making new friends at the powwow.
"I feel like a lot of communities don't accept two-spirited individuals, and here it's more welcoming," said McDonald.
"A lot more people come out here and they feel open to share their two-spiritedness in the open and not hide it."
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