Duchesnay Creek Singers
Nipissing First Nation celebrated the 27th Annual Traditional Pow-Wow on cultural lands at Jocko Point over the weekend.
The three day event, MC’d by Bob Goulais, was bigger and better than ever with this year’s theme of ‘Honouring Our Ancestors’. Host drummers Duchesney Creek Singers and co-host drummers, Little Iron accompanied dignitaries and dancers for Grand Entry.
Wonderful summer weather brought crowds of people needing to be shuttled into the bustling Pow-Wow grounds. The high canopy of trees offered shade while the breeze from Lake Nipissing aided the celebration.
The culture of Nipissing First Nation offering artistic excellence is displayed in the yearly event which everyone in the community looks forward to.
Pow-Wow Dancers embodying their place in Nipissing First Nation during the Grand Entry, proudly displayed decorative and detailed regalia.
Rita Goulais displays her moccasins.
Jules Armstrong is the Cultural Events Coordinator of Nipissing First Nation. Armstrong says the Pow-Wow Committee totally relies on the time and efforts of volunteers. “There are over a hundred volunteers with more folks signing up to help almost every half hour. Many people help, even if it’s just for four hours. We have people who volunteer every year.”
Armstrong looks forward to the enormous feast on Saturday evening coordinated by Ruby Greene with the community feeding the Pow-Wow goers. “The dancers bring food, and the drummers bring items. Traditionally it is the community that hosts the Pow-Wow, providing for those who come. Now, everybody contributes.”
MC Bob Goulais and Glenna Beaucage
Glenna Beaucage is also on the Pow-Wow committee. She explains the importance of the gathering. “We all have busy, busy lives so we take this time to celebrate who we are with friends in the outlying areas and with other First Nations. We all have to stop and honour and acknowledge the land, the water and the people and our future.”
Beaucage says the evening’s feast is about sharing. “We have always welcomed people to our shores, helping them to survive and showing them where the food was.”
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Early documentation has over 700 canoes on the shores of Lake Nipissing for great gatherings with all the clans that lasted up to ten days.
The 27th NFN Annual Pow-Wow continued with a Sunrise Ceremony taking place at 6am on Sunday with Grand Entry featured again at 12pm.
Many female dancers competed for the best of beadwork and originality in the contest Rock Your Mocs at 3pm.
