The 27th annual FSIN ‘Spirit of our Nations’ Cultural Celebration and Pow Wow is on this weekend at SaskTel Centre, sponsored by the City of Saskatoon and the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority. The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations says this community-oriented event is an excellent way to support the vibrant cultural history of First Nation people through song and dance. It’s expected over the three day event there will be over 10,000 people attending, 1,000 dancers, 200 singers and 100 volunteers.

Saturday’s events begin a 11 with the Saskatchewan First Nations Veterans Association signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the Royal Canadian Legion to co-develop the “Burns Way”, which is a joint Indigenous and non-Indigenous approach to improve veterans’ mental health. It’s named after late Canadian Armed Forces veteran Earl Burns of James Smith Cree Nation.

The City of Saskatoon is offering free bus service to SaskTel Centre from the Special Event Stop at 23rd Street and 2nd Avenue. Below is the schedule:

Direct bus service from the Special Events Stop (outside the 2nd Avenue Lofts at 23rd Street and 2nd Avenue) to the FSIN Pow Wow this weekend at SaskTel Centre is available at the following times:

Saturday, October 22, event starts at 10 a.m.:
Bus departure times from the Special Events Stop:
9:00 a.m.; 9:40 a.m.; 10:20 a.m.; 2:00 p.m.; 2:40 p.m.; 3:20 p.m.; 6:00 p.m.; 6:40 p.m.; and 7:20 p.m.

Bus departure times from the SaskTel Centre:
9:20 a.m.; 10:00 a.m.; 10:40 a.m.; 2:20 p.m.; 3:00 p.m.; 3:40 p.m.; 6:20 p.m.; 7:00 p.m.; 7:40 p.m.; 10:00 p.m.; 10:40 p.m.; 11:20 p.m.; and 12:00 a.m.

Sunday, October 23, event starts at 10 a.m.:
Bus departure times from the Special Events Stop:
9:00 a.m.; 9:40 a.m.; 10:20 a.m.; 2:00 a.m.; 2:40 a.m.; 3:20 a.m.; 6:00 a.m.; 6:40 a.m.; 7:20 a.m.; 8:00 a.m.; and 8:40 a.m.

Bus departure times from the SaskTel Centre:
9:20 a.m.; 10:00 a.m.; 10:40 a.m.; 2:20 p.m.; 3:00 p.m.; 3:40 p.m.; 6:20 p.m.; 7:00 p.m.; 7:40 p.m.; 8:20 p.m.; and 9:00 p.m.