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Maskwacis Cree Nation drum presented to Team Canada’s Catriona Le May Doan

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The opening ceremony for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics will take place Friday morning but Team Canada’s Chef de Mission Catriona Le May Doan took part in a special one last month.

On Jan. 15, a private ceremony was held in Calgary where a Maskwacis Cree Nation drum was presented to Le May Doan.

Chief Wilton Littlechild, International Chief on Treaties Six, Seven, and Eight, performed a traveling song during the ceremony.

“It is our great honour to transfer this sacred drum from Maskwacis Cree Nation to Team Canada and to Chef de Mission Catriona Le May Doan,” said Chief Littlechild in a press release. “As a former Winter Olympics Ambassador, I am so proud of all of you on Team Canada and wish you all the best and are behind you, in full support in the joy of effort and success. The drum beat is the heartbeat of Mother Earth and it always brings us together much like the power of sport and the Olympic Games. Let the heartbeat of Mother Earth inspire all of Team Kakanatak. May our Creator, Great Spirit, watch, bless and guide you as you lead our country and thank you for acknowledging this is an act of Reconciliation.”

Treaty Six Elder Patrick Lightening sung a travelling prayer song in the four directions during the ceremony, symbolizing how the Olympics call people together from all points of Mother Earth.