Teagan Littlechief: “Being able to tell our story and show them who we are is a beautiful thing.”
Teagan Littlechief, who is blessed with one of Saskatchewan’s most popular and powerful voices, is pleased that others are finally being heard.
That is the objective on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, when educational stories are told about intergenerational trauma resulting from the residential school system.
“It was not something that we ever knew about until I was maybe 15, 16,” said Littlechief, who is from White Bear First Nation. “That’s when everything about residential schools and children being taken away really hit hard and it was something people didn’t believe.
“For this moment now, it’s a blessing.”
The stories, long suppressed in many cases, are now recounted on a day that honours survivors of residential schools and children who never returned home.
“I’ve seen posts and I’ve heard conversations and the thing I always heard was, ‘I never knew what Indigenous people, First Nations people, have gone through in the past,’ ” Littlechief said. “It’s just a shock.
“Being able to tell our story and show them who we are is a beautiful thing.”
Those sentiments are in tune with the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ kisiskâciwan game.
As part of the CFL team’s third annual celebration of Indigenous culture, Littlechief performed at Coors Light Party in the Park. She then sang the national anthem before the Roughriders defeated the Ottawa REDBLACKS 29-16.
Mosaic Stadium was also the site of a landmark performance on Nov. 20, 2022, when Littlechief sang “O Canada” in English, French and Cree before the 109th Grey Cup Game.
The first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation had been held the previous year.
“This day always means a lot, because it’s about getting recognition — being able to showcase a lot of Indigenous culture and being able to showcase everything that they have,” Littlechief said. “It’s something that we’ve missed in the past years.
“It’s nice to be able to see a lot of people giving and showing this Truth and Reconciliation.”
She understands, though, that progress must be pursued and celebrated 365 days per year.
“I always wear an orange bandana,” she said. “It’s for Every Child Matters. I always try to input everything into my shows, like the beadwork. I try to be as into my culture as I possibly can.
“Relearning my language is so hard, but it’s something that I’ve really wanted to do, ever since I was little, because I only learned bits and pieces.
“Now that I’m older, I’m able to put sentences together, so I try to do that as much as possible.”
Performing is another vehicle that strengthens the connection.
“I love it, because I get to experience things that I never really got to experience when I was younger,” Littlechief said. “Now I get to travel everywhere and do my thing and try to bring awareness in my way.”
