CANORA, SASK.- “I enjoy traveling everywhere because it is fun, I love to dance.”
Eight-year-old Rising Ponicappo, a student at Canora Junior Elementary School, has been dancing for just about all of his young life, and was recently crowned “Little Warrior of Treaty Four,” at the Annual Treaty Four Days in Fort Qu’Appelle.
The 2026 Treaty Four Gathering took place Sept. 14 to the 20, including the powwow on the final two days where Ponicappo received the award.
According to information found online, the Treaty 4 Gathering is hosted annually by the File Hills Qu’Appelle Tribal Council at Fort Qu’Appelle and includes:
• Feasts and community gatherings
• Parades and powwows
• Cultural teachings and land-based learning
• Student activities and workshops
• Career fairs, sports events, and youth forums
Rising Ponicappo, son of Yullinda Ponicappo and the late Thomas Cree, has been dancing since he was three months old, and said he “likes the sneak up and the crow hop.”
He has already won championships at powwows, including the 2025 Chief Little Shell Little Warrior, representing Dunseith, North Dakota.
Yullinda Ponicappo, Rising’s mom, said she and everyone in the family are justifiably proud of their Little Warrior of Treaty Four.
“My reaction to his crowning was happiness and pride knowing his dad was looking down on him proud as well,” said Yullinda. “We all cried with joy watching him get his medallion and honor. Rising, with the help of me and his grandma, sold raffle tickets, the one with the most sold would gain points. In three days we sold 197 books totalling $2,940. He also was interviewed and had to do a dance contest showing off his skills and style."
Carrying the title of Treaty 4 Warrior brings a great deal of meaning in the community.
“To be a part of powwow royalty is to be an ambassador and role model for your community and who you are representing,” said Yullinda. “You travel the powwow trail representing the community and inviting others to your powwow celebration when it happens. You have to speak in front of crowds at powwows.
“I am proud of Rising as he acknowledges elders, shakes their hands and talks with them. We are a powwow family and we all dance. Rising will continue dancing and he also loves to sing in his uncle’s drum group.”
Additional information was passed along by Rising’s aunt Netasha.
“He has a long life, great blood line including being the sixth blood line of Chief Little Shell of Turtle Mountains and the great grandson of two well known traditional leaders and artists of Turtle Mountains, Francis Cree and Rose Machipiness Cree.
“Rising keeps his family strong by learning traditional ways. Basket weaving was handed down to Rising by his father, who learned it from his grandmother and aunts, and he shows a basket of his dad’s. That way they know he has the traditional skills and comes from two traditional families. He also has a lot of proud family in the United States who cheered and cried for him when he was chosen. He brings a lot to the table, it’s in his blood.”
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