Kawacatoose holds powwow despite tornado

Kawacatoose First Nation was devastated by a tornado that tore through the community on July 2, but is going aheadwith its annual powwow this weekend.

With 20 homes destroyed and more than 80 people homeless, the community was left reeling.

There was some discussion that this year's event should be cancelled, but the Powwow Committee decided that a celebration of community is still in order.

Joan Machiskinic welcomed that decision.She's helping out at the relief centre, and saidthat it's important to take care of a person's spirit. Friends will reconnect at the powwow,and "it is a time just to forget what has happened to them."

Brad Dustyhorn doesn't know where he will be raising his family. He and his wife have an 18-month-old baby and another one due in early September, and they lost everything in the tornado.

The family'sin temporary housing for now, and he's also glad the powwow is going ahead. The celebration will take his mind off thework ahead.

The powwow officially beginsFriday evening.

The community of 1,100 peopleis about 120 km north of Regina.