Picture Play Gallery: Honouring Our Future Generations

The North Bay Indian Friendship Centre (IFC) is a beehive of activity this weekend as they host the 12th Annual Children's Pow-Wow. The centre is the first to hold a Pow-Wow specifically aimed at the children and with a standing room only crowd Saturday it continues to grow in popularity.

“The idea to have the Children’s Pow-Wow was something that started 11 years ago it started here from just from a couple of programs and we had a good turnout,” explains Cathy Bellefeuille IFC President.

“We’ve always had a fairly decent turnout ... we would like to keep it here but obviously we’re pretty tight.”

“I think next year we are going to have to look at a bigger venue, but we want to keep it in the community for the urban centre because that serves urban Aboriginal people that’s what friendship centres are here for is the Aboriginal people that are urban based.”

The theme this year is titled ‘Honouring Our Future Generations’ and Bellefeuille says the gathering is more than just the social affair for the children that offers the opportunity for the kids and adults to reconnect with their culture and all the teachings.

“You think it’s just people that are getting together just eat and dance ... there’s a whole lot more going on there’s a lot of spirituality, a lot of learning and there is a lot of connectedness with each other, and there is reconnecting with the teachings,” she explains.

“The teachings surrounding the environment ... some of the stories and some of the songs are based on those teachings about the earth and the sacredness of the earth, and the sacredness of each other and respecting that.”

The event gets underway today (Sunday) with the Grand Entry at 1 PM at the North Bay Indian Friendship Centre located at 980 Cassells Street.