Roughriders share in milestone celebration at Cote First Nation Traditional Powwow
The Saskatchewan Roughriders don’t have to emerge with a victory for a road trip to be rewarding.
On Sunday, for example, quarterback Trevor Harris, linebacker Jameer Thurman and defensive back Godfrey Onyeka were part of a Roughriders delegation that travelled 280 kilometres northwest of Regina to attend the Cote First Nation Traditional Powwow.
“We’re really thankful that we were there and that we were able to learn about their culture and the things that they do,” Harris said.
“It was awesome, because they taught Godfrey, Jameer and me how to do their dance with their drumbeat.
“They’re really into it and it’s something that they’re really passionate about. It was really cool to see the things that they were doing.”
The powwow doubled as a celebration of the 150th anniversary of the signing of treaties — something Harris kept in mind when given the opportunity to address those who attended.
“I just wanted to thank them for allowing us on their land,” he said.
“I didn’t want them to think that we take for granted that we can just walk in there and see their customs and participate in them.
“I also let them know to follow God and have a great moral compass. For myself, it’s Jesus.”
Harris also had a message for the kids, who were urged to avoid drugs and alcohol.
Interactions with the senior members of the community also made an impact.
“How much they value their elders was cool to see,” Onyeka said. “There was one time when we were standing for 20 minutes. There was an elder who couldn’t stand for that long, so she sat and everyone around her was just fanning her.
“I asked people who she was and they said, ‘She’s an elder, so we take care of them.’
“It was cool for them to open it up and let us get a peek inside their culture.”
Given that opportunity, the players immersed themselves in the proceedings at the newly opened Cote arena.
“I was just blown away by how long the beat of the drum goes and how long they go out there and dance,” Harris marvelled.
“Usually, if you go to a dance club or whatever, you dance for a song or two, but they’re out there for 20 minutes.
“I look back and Thurman is just dripping sweat. I’m like, ‘Dude, are you going to be OK? You’re not dehydrated, are you?’ He said, ‘I need a water!’ He was out there going hard and it was hot in the building, too.
“They do things with passion and it really means a lot to them.”
It meant a lot to Thurman as well.
“I’ve always wanted to do things throughout the community and around the province,” he said. “That was the first time that I was able to get out and do an appearance.
“I was just talking to the people there, trying to understand their culture a little bit, and taking part in their festivities with them. We just had a good time out there.”
Along with the three players, the community-owned CFL team was represented by Gainer the Gopher, two members of the 620 CKRM Rider Cheer Team (Tatianna Ochitwa and Maria Polimac), Event Co-ordinator Eva Fletcher and Saskatchewan Roughrider Foundation employees Nathaniel Cruz (Marketing Content Creator) and Noah Pelletier (Intern).
“It was such an honour to be present and to interact with and learn from the families in the Cote First Nation community,” Fletcher said.
“It’s such an uplifting celebration of culture and there is such a special feeling just to be a part of it.
“To have this opportunity to bring our communities closer together through our shared love of sport and see the positive impacts that being in these communities bring to our players, Cheer Team members and staff is truly rewarding.”
Ultimately, it was a win for everyone involved.
“When we’d walk around, you’d see people visibly perk up, especially when Trevor was in the room,” Onyeka said. “People were going, ‘That’s Trevor Harris! That’s Jameer Thurman!’
“It was nice. There were a lot of Rider fans there, so they’d come up and say, ‘I’m your biggest fan. Can I get a picture?’
“We made their day a bit, but they made our day as well.”
