TRADITIONAL HEALTH GATHERING 
THE HEALTH AND SOCIAL 
Development Secretariat of the 
Federation of Sovereign Indigenous 
Nations (FSIN) collaborated with 
Ochapowace Nation and the 
Chacachas Treaty Nation to co-host 
the 2025 Traditional Health Gathering. 
Ochapowace and Chacachas are 
Cree nations located within Treaty 
4 territory, approximately 107 
kilometres south of Yorkton, Sask. 
The gathering took place on the 
Ochapowace Nation powwow grounds 
with ceremonies being led by Elders, 
Knowledge Keepers and healers daily 
for participants of the Traditional 
Health Gathering.
The goal of the Traditional Health 
Gathering is the advancement of 
collective healing, health and wellness 
through the application of traditional 
cultural practices and languages. Held 
annually, the event is successful in its 
ability to assemble First Nations and 
Indigenous peoples from across the 
prairies and even participants from 
across Turtle Island. What makes this 
event so successful is the involvement 
of the Elders representing the various 
linguistic groups located within 
Saskatchewan, such as the Dene, 
Saulteaux, Dakota, Lakota, Nakoda and 
Cree. These Elders attended meetings 
and provided invaluable guidance on 
the various events, ceremonies and 
activities that foster better health, 
cultural preservation, healing and 
our sacred responsibility to uplift 
one another.
The FSIN Health and Social 
Development Secretariat continues 
on its path of self-determination with 
our communities on their journey to 
managing their health-care systems, 
and part of that is integrating 
traditional practices within their 
First Nations. The “Medicine Chest” 
clause is a specific provision found in 
Treaty 6 that speaks to our Inherent 
and Treaty Right to Health, which 
has significant historical context, and 
most notably, our inherent right to 
2025 Traditional Health Gathering
health and well-being that predates 
settler occupation, colonial treaties and 
western government.
Traditional Health Gathering 
Theme: Strengthening, 
Protecting, Healing Our Nations
The theme for the 2025 Traditional 
Health Gathering was Strengthening, 
Protecting, Healing Our Nations. “As we 
all know, ceremony is essential to our 
way of life and a part of our traditional 
way of healing,” said Ochapowace 
Chief Shelley Bear in her address. 
“After signing [the] Treaty, many of 
these traditional ways that our people 
continued with were outlawed by the 
governments of the day. Due to perse-
cution, many of our ceremonies were 
conducted in hiding and/or passed 
on to other tribes. Today, we celebrate 
ceremonies coming back home to our 
people and families.” 
The 2025 Traditional Health Gathering 
was evidence of what the Chief was 
saying: ceremonies were coming back 
to the Ochapowace Nation and the 
Chacachas Treaty Nation. Sites were 
erected within the powwow grounds 
for ceremonies to be held during the 
Traditional Health Gathering. A total 
of 17 tipis, five prospector tents and 
two sweat lodges were erected across 
various locations, marked by the site 
map, all under the supervision of the 
event coordinator.
As is the case for any event that incor-
porates traditional medicines, ceremo-
nies or any cultural aspect, proper 
protocol was followed, highlighting the 
respect for traditional knowledge and 
guaranteeing a successful event. 
Ceremonies
As mentioned earlier, the theme of the 
2025 Traditional Health Gathering was 
Strengthening, Protecting, Healing Our 
Nations. One of the ways to achieve 
that goal is through ceremony, through 
the re-introduction and revitalization 
of ceremonies in our nations. 
Throughout the week, sacred ceremo-
nies and cultural practices formed the 
heart of the gathering. These included 
sweats, horse dances, chicken dances, 
bear dances, buffalo dances and ghost 
dances. Each ceremony carried teach-
ings, renewal and collective healing, 
reconnecting participants to ancestral 
knowledge and spiritual guidance. 
The inclusion of a Two-Spirit sweat 
emphasized respect, empowerment 
and safety for women and Two-Spirit 
relatives. These ceremonies were held 
to offer prayers for attendees for posi-
tive outcomes throughout the course 
of the gathering, as well as to promote 
mental well-being, personal growth, 
forgiveness, love, cultural identity, to 
honour the ancestors that have passed 
on, to help those struggling with grief 
and loss and to keep negative spirits at 
18  OUR PRIORITY  Issue 1  2025/26

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