Article content It’s both a homecoming and a welcome to new guests. The 39th Annual Neyaashiinigmiing Traditional Pow Wow at Cape Croker Park combined history, culture, and a market at the powwow grounds on Saturday and throughout the weekend. Some in attendance came from as far away as Prince Edward Island and Saskatchewan, returning home for the event.
While others, came to watch and learn. The annual three-day festival featured traditional ceremonies, musical performers, sessions in the teaching tent (including Pow Wow 101), and a community feast. On Saturday, the community’s elders gathered in a tent protected from the steady rainfall.
Those gathered at the powwow were encouraged to speak, ask questions and educate themselves about the area, its people and stories. “I’m glad to see the history is being told. To share our true history.
The history you’ll never see at school. To see the true parts of who we are,” Chippewas of Nawash Chief Greg Nadjiwon said. “We grow stronger when we’re united.
We’re a force to be reckoned with,” he said of the people from the Saugeen Ojibway Nation. The entire event revolves around the drummers and the dancers, literally. The drum tent is in the middle of the grounds, with a dancing ring surrounding it, and the market and vendor tents are at the perimeter of the grounds.
Danielle Jones’ son Declan Abitong turned the dancing ring into a stage. He took second place at the Saugeen First Nation’s competition powwow a week ago and won $100 for a spot dance Saturday. “Competition powwows and traditional powwows are different,” Jones said.
“My mom always said traditional powwows are meant to be about dancing from the heart. Competition powwows are about winning.” Jones said there are six powwow dance styles, three for men and three for women.
The men dance grass, fancy or traditional, while the women dance fancy, jingle or traditional. Abitong comes from a family of dancers, with roots on the peninsula and Manitoulin Island. “Thankfully it’s in our family,” Jones said.
“We have the luxury of growing up in it.” Abitong, 7, is the latest in line, and dressed in his full regalia his acrobatic and rhythmic movements impressed the audience. “He was a grass dancer but switched to fancy this year,” Jones said.
“It’s a little bit of a faster pace. A little more flamboyant. He’s super energetic so he loves the fancy.
” Young Spirit Singers from Frog Lake Cree First Nation in Alberta were the host drum group for the powwow. Food vendors offered powwow favourites like tacos in a bag and scone dogs. A sacred fire burned throughout, while market vendors provided clothes, art, trinkets, hair braiding and tattoos.
Logan Staats headlined the musical performances and open mic Friday night. On Saturday evening, a community feast was held at the community centre..
