{"id":96643,"date":"2026-07-27T20:16:27","date_gmt":"2026-07-27T23:16:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/service.codeus.ca\/index.php\/2026\/07\/27\/carrying-the-teachings-forward-adrian-lachances-journey-through-mens-traditional-dance\/"},"modified":"2026-07-27T20:16:27","modified_gmt":"2026-07-27T23:16:27","slug":"carrying-the-teachings-forward-adrian-lachances-journey-through-mens-traditional-dance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/service.codeus.ca\/index.php\/2026\/07\/27\/carrying-the-teachings-forward-adrian-lachances-journey-through-mens-traditional-dance\/","title":{"rendered":"Carrying the Teachings Forward: Adrian LaChances Journey Through Mens Traditional Dance"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<p>For Adrian LaChance, powwow dancing is a connection to ancestors, a way to heal, and a responsibility to carry teachings forward for future generations. Photo supplied.  By CheviRabbit, local Journalism Initiative Reporter (ANNews) \u2013 For Adrian LaChance, powwow dancing is more than a performance. It is a connection to ancestors, a way to heal, and a responsibility to carry teachings forward for future generations. LaChance, a Cree man from James Smith Cree Nation in Saskatchewan who has lived most of his life in Edmonton, began his dance journey in 1997. What started as a first step into the powwow circle became a lifelong commitment to learning, understanding, and sharing the deeper meaning behind the dance. \u201cI became so intrigued by it that I was just influenced and impacted by the dance and what it represented,\u201d LaChance said. \u201cI became a sponge. I just wanted to learn more \u2013 as much as I could.\u201d LaChance dances Men\u2019s Traditional, one of the oldest styles of powwow dancing. The style carries a long history and has been adopted by many Indigenous nations, including the Cree, as a way to tell stories, honour teachings, and promote wellness. \u201cMen\u2019s Traditional is one of the oldest of all the styles of dance that we see at powwow,\u201d he said. \u201cThe Cree have adopted it as a way to tell our stories, promote health and wellness, and be that strong role model for the younger generation in a good way.\u201d Adrian LaChance. Photo supplied. Throughout his journey, LaChance sought guidance from veteran dancers and knowledge keepers who helped him understand the responsibilities that come with wearing regalia and entering the powwow circle. \u201cI had to talk to those veteran dancers to get those teachings, the understanding of the things that we carry, the things that we wear, the teachings and the intent behind it,\u201d he said. For LaChance, regalia is not simply clothing. Every piece carries meaning, history, and identity. \u201cI wear a fan, a dancing stick, a shield, and I paint my face,\u201d he explained. \u201cFrom what I was taught, the rites of passage we go through as dancers are connected to those pieces.\u201d He shared that face paint represents courage and a relationship with the Creator. \u201cWe\u2019re not fearful of death because we understand it,\u201d LaChance said. \u201cHistorically, it wasn\u2019t meant to intimidate us. It was about being prepared to meet the Creator. If it was our time, we would be in our very best to meet the Creator.\u201d Another important part of his regalia is his eagle bustle, which he describes as a symbol of connection. \u201cIt\u2019s shaped like a heart, and it represents our connection to Mother Earth,\u201d he said. \u201cIt also represents the heartbeat and the gifts that she gives us every day.\u201d LaChance explained that dancing is an exchange of respect and energy with the Earth. \u201cWe walk gently upon her, we dance gently upon her because she gives us so much,\u201d he said. \u201cWith each footprint and each dance step, it\u2019s an exchange of energy. She\u2019s giving me her love, and I\u2019m giving her that love back.\u201d The colours and symbols worn by dancers also carry teachings. LaChance shared that one of his previous outfits was blue, representing ancestors and the spirit world. \u201cI think about our ancestors that are no longer here in the physical sense, and I give thanks for all that they bestowed upon me as I continue to dance for them,\u201d he said. The responsibilities of a dancer extend beyond the circle. LaChance learned important teachings about the role of men from Joe Cardinal of Saddle Lake Cree Nation, who taught him the meaning of being a warrior. \u201cHe told me a warrior isn\u2019t one that goes out and kills people,\u201d LaChance said. \u201cA warrior is one that goes out there and tries to ignite peace within those individuals that are having a conflict.\u201d For LaChance, being a warrior means choosing kindness, humility, and responsibility. \u201cIt is a great honour to be a provider, protector, and warrior,\u201d he said. \u201cI don\u2019t make fun of people, I don\u2019t gossip about people. I try to carry myself in a good way.\u201d He encourages young people interested in dancing to embrace who they are and seek guidance. \u201cBe creative. Don\u2019t be afraid to be yourself,\u201d he said. \u201cDon\u2019t be afraid to ask for support. Connect yourself with people who will support you and give you some of these teachings.\u201d LaChance also spoke about the importance of powwow initiation and mentorship. He explained that dancers often approach experienced dancers they admire, offer tobacco, and ask them to guide them through their journey. \u201cThey become your extended family, almost like uncles that will guide you in a good way,\u201d he said. Before being initiated, dancers often spend time preparing their regalia, gathering support from family, and receiving prayers and guidance from elders. For LaChance, dancing has always been about healing and honouring those who came before him. \u201cThe reason why I dance is to heal, and to celebrate that gift that was left before from our generations that is no longer here in a physical sense,\u201d he said. His message to new dancers is simple but powerful. \u201cDon\u2019t give up. Don\u2019t ever be afraid to ask for help and support because your ancestors are always with you.\u201d Beyond the powwow circle, LaChance continues this work through his life skills programming in Treaty 8 territory at Duncan\u2019s First Nation. Through his work, he helps people discover their strengths, build skills, and become helpers within their communities. \u201cI love to travel and connect and remind people about being their authentic self and gaining skills and knowledge to hopefully become helpers for the people,\u201d he said. Through dance, mentorship, and community work, Adrian LaChance continues to carry forward the teachings entrusted to him \u2014 reminding others that culture is not only something we inherit, but something we live, protect, and share. For more information visit his website: http:\/\/Www.adrianlachance.ca <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>For Adrian LaChance, powwow dancing is a connection to ancestors, a way to heal, and a responsibility to carry teachings forward for future generations. Photo supplied. By CheviRabbit, local Journalism Initiative Reporter (ANNews) \u2013 For Adrian LaChance, powwow dancing is more than a performance. It is a connection to ancestors, a way to heal, and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":137,"featured_media":96644,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2075,118,1],"tags":[2074,116],"class_list":["post-96643","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-alberta","category-indigenous","category-uncategorized","tag-alberta","tag-indigenous"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/service.codeus.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/96643","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/service.codeus.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/service.codeus.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/service.codeus.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/137"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/service.codeus.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=96643"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/service.codeus.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/96643\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/service.codeus.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/96644"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/service.codeus.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=96643"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/service.codeus.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=96643"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/service.codeus.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=96643"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}