Culture Award Sponsored by Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority
Presented by Ms. Pat Cook, Vice President, Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority

The 2008 Award Recipient of the Culture category is Sky Boyz Singers and Sun Riser Dancers. This group is from the Stuart Community High School in Duck Lake, SK. This group started in 2005 from a desire from a group of boy and girls who wished to start a traditional drum group and traditional dance group. Together with local elders, resource people and staff members supported these students to develop and express their talent. The Sky Boys Singers practise weekly the boys are from Grade 7 to 11 where they place great emphasis on teaching of the drum and learning to earn a place at the drum. The Sun Rise Dancers are made up of eight dancers who began at the same time as the drum group. The dancers perform fancy, shawl, jingle and traditional dances. The also choreograph original dance with traditional elements.

Together the Sky Boyz Singers and Sunrise Dancers perform at other schools and conferences across the province. A great endeavour they shared was sharing their culture at World Aids Day in Calgary with Mr Tom Jackson. They bring with them a message of respect and tolerance amongst all cultures. Their motto is “Building Friendship through Song and Dance”. Each of these members set a standard for others to emulate: respect for themselves, for elders and learning and achieving great things.

Congratulations Sky Boyz Singers and Sun Rise Dancers!