Powwow dancer thanks stranger who returned lost regalia

A First Nation powwow dancer returned to Portage la Prairie, Man., this weekto personally thank the man who returned his lostregalia.

"I wanted to come back and meet [him] face to face, shake his handand give him something of my appreciation for what he did,"Todd Papequashsaid.

Papequash gave local man Blaine Bateman a framed painting by Regina-based artist Joe Tapaquon.

Watch their meeting in the video below.

Powwow dancer offers gift to stranger who returned lost regalia

6 years ago

Duration 2:44

A Kawacatoose First Nation powwow dancer returned to Portage la Prairie, to give thanks to the man who returned his lost powwow regalia.

"I'm very grateful for what he did,"Papequashsaid. "A lot of people have lost outfits and never seen them again,"

Papequash lost his powwow regalia on Aug. 2. when the bin carrying his gearfell off the back of his truck.

Bateman saw the bin as he was driving on the highway, turned around to pick it up and drove back home to take a look inside.

"I was surprised what was in there," he said.

He knew there was a powwow happening in Long Plains, and made the 20-minute drive to the First Nationto return the bin.

"I've done a good thingthat turned into a very good thing,"Batemansaid. "I'm very happy the man has his stuff backso he can continue on with his traditional dancing."

'Part of our life'

Thanks to Bateman, Papequash and his family will be able to finish up their summer on the powwow trail.

Papequash, a high school teacher in Saskatchewan's KawacatooseFirst Nation,uses his time off during the summer to travel to powwows across North America.

"I come from a family that has history we've all danced powwow," Papequashsaid. "My dad danced powwow for 50 years.We grew up that way, it's a part of our life."

He stopped by Portage la Prairie before making his way to another powwow in Shakopee, Minn.He plans to dance there, then travel to another in Pala, Calif., before he gets ready to teach for the school year.

Before Papequash left Portage la Prairie, he shared a story with Bateman on the origin of the chicken dance and what the outfit meansto him.

"It's a part of who I am. It's part of the Cree man that I am," Papequashsaid. "I'm a part of a Cree First Nationit's my history, it's a way to continue my culture, it's everything to me."

Bateman hasn't been to a powwow, but he says he is hoping to attendone someday.