A two-day celebration of Indigenous culture will be taking place Sunday and Monday at SaskTel Centre, as September 30th is the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation.

Saskatoon Tribal Council Tribal Chief Mark Arcand says it’s the third annual Every Child Matters Powwow.

Admission is free for all ages, and attendees are asked to wear red Sunday to honour Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, and orange on Monday in support of residential school survivors.

“This is about awareness. This is about education, and this is an opportunity to come be a part of truth and reconciliation and show your support, as Saskatoon always does, to make a difference in people’s lives.”

There will be four grand entries over the course of the two-day event: two Sunday at 1 and 7 p.m., and two on Monday at noon and 6:00 p.m. to end the day.

Arcand says attendees can expect to be immersed in First Nations dance, language, culture, and song, all aspects of their culture that were nearly lost through the process of assimilation.

“Residential schools aimed to take the Indian out of the Indian, and that was their language, their culture, their identity. On September 30th, we’re putting that back into our people, and in an urban setting, which is really, really awesome.”

There are over $50,000 in prizes to be awarded to drumming and dancing groups for their efforts, and on Monday, an organization from New Zealand will be making a presentation.

“We welcome everybody. We hope it’s a great day. We know Monday is a holiday, but still, it’s a great day to bring out your families. Sunday, if you’re not doing anything, please show up and be part of a great weekend.”