Kwey! Hello, my name is Sarah Decontie and I am a proud member of the Algonquin First Nation of Kitigan Zibi located in Maniwaki, Quebec.
I have been jingle dancing as well as hoop dancing for the past seven years and it has been quite the journey! After taking a twenty year break from dancing when I was a child, I was presented with an opportunity to begin hoop and jingle dance training in the spring of 2014. After countless hours of dedicated practice, I was finally able to spread my wings and fly for an audience.
What I love about hoop dancing is that I am able to tell a story through this beautiful dance and I enjoy sharing them with others. It’s fun to see how the audience interprets the story in which I told. What I love about the jingle dance is that it is a healing dance. I take my role as a jingle dress dancer very seriously and I will not hesitate to dance when someone is in need of healing and/or support. I have always felt the need to help others which is why this dance is very special to me.
I have performed at schools (pre-K, elementary, high school, colleges, universities), corporate events, Canada Speaks, Canada Day 2017 & 2019, Bluesfest 2019, along many other gatherings such as Powwows. I truly enjoy being able to educate along the way and I feel blessed to have been given these gifts that I can share with the world and the future generations to come.
“Niminiwendum kichi nimian” “I love to dance” – Sarah Faye Decontie To reach Sarah: E-mail her at sarah.decontie@gmail.com
Odyssey Showcase acknowledges that the land on which we gather in Ottawa is the traditional unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabe people who have lived on this land since time immemorial.
Odyssey Showcase gratefully acknowledges the support of our funding partners.
All photos by Alan Dean Photography, photolafontaine, Stephen Willcock and Richard Tardif with permission.