Legacy lives on at the First Nations University powwow

The First Nations University of Canada's annualSpring Celebration Powwowholds a special significance this year formany dancers in the Regina community.

Chasity Delorme, a committee member with the spring powwow, says she has "huge moccasins to fill."

That's because Delorme is one of the women carrying on the legacy of the late elder Lilly Daniels, who started powwow classes at the Albert-Scott Community Centre in the city's North Central neighbourhood.

• Lilly Daniels, a powwow powerhouse, dies at 80

"It wasn't anything for her to purchase the fabric, the jingles, the feathers anything that a youth or a tiny tot needed and go home and make an outfit for them within days," Delorme told CBC, becoming emotional as she described the influence ofDaniels.

She added that Daniels continued to sew even after having a stroke and losing the use of one of her arms.

Daniels died in March at the age of 80and handed down her dance troupe to Delorme.

Both Delorme andKim Wenger, also of the Albert-Scott powwow, spoke with Stefani Langenegger on CBC Radio'sThe Morning Editionduring a live show at the community centre on Friday.

Spring powwow

Delorme said that as a committee member with the spring powwow, she worked for four nights a weekwith parents leading up to the event to design regalia for the youth participants.

"It is amazing for the parents that get involved in actually creating the regalia because then they learn the teachings that go behind it," Delorme said. "They're realizing the patience and dedication that it takes to make the regalia."

She estimated that between 700 and 1,000 dancers are taking part in a variety of programs at the 37th annual Spring Celebration Powwow.

The university powwow is running this weekend in Regina at the Brandt Centre.

The grand entry, during which all the dancers wearfull regalia, takes place at 12 p.m. CST and 7 p.m. on each day.