James Dionne (Ontario) is a Native American tradition keeper from Turtle Mountain Reservation in North Dakota. Dionne leads sweat lodges at his home and dances Pow-Wow with family and friends at community festivals.
Bio
James Dionne was born on the Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation in North Dakota. When his parents settled in Ontario in 1984, Dionne became estranged from his heritage. As a teenager, Dionne sought the help of a neighboring Assiniboine/Sioux family in Nyssa who shared their knowledge of Native ways. “Things started opening up for me to go and learn...the old ways...somebody was listening.” His “personal walk” took him back to the Dakotas where Dionne sought the elders, and was introduced to Lakota Sun Dance rituals. At one point, Dionne had a dream in which he was called to lead the sweat lodge ceremony. “The sweat lodge is a time to honor the Creator,” Dionne explained. In the circle, he serves as the “interceder”, praying that those present will receive answers. In addition to the sweat lodge rituals conducted at his home, Dionne served as the volunteer leader of the sweat lodge circle at the Snake River Correctional Institution outside of Ontario for six years. At the urging of his friends, Dionne began to participate in powwows, allowing him to reconnect to his Native heritage in yet another way. After serving as a helper for 12 years, he began to dance. Dionne, his family members, and friends, now perform as a group at community festivals in the area. “At some point in our life,” Dionne commented, “we were physical warriors, but [now] it’s time to be spiritual warriors...[it’s] time to lead our young ones, help our families, help the tribes, help people.”
