Honouring our veterans at Maamwi Kindaaswin Festival and Pow-wow

High Ridge Singers - Moose Factory.
High Ridge Singers – Moose Factory.

By Kelly Anne Smith

NORTH BAY – Maamwi Kindaaswin Festival and Pow Wow Celebration 2015 — “Honouring Our Veterans,” was held on June 6, the 71st anniversary of D-day of the Normandy landings.

For seven years now, the North Bay Indian Friendship Centre offers the festival and powwow to Natives and non-Natives to immerse themselves in First Nations culture. It was held at the North Bay waterfront close to the Discovery North Bay Museum.

During Saturday’s Grand Entry, the High Ridge Singers from Moose Factory, drummed and sang for the procession of dignitaries and the ten Aboriginal Veterans, and their families. The Head Veteran during the celebration was Tom Saville, who received an Aboriginal Veterans Medal. Saville, a WWII veteran will be 95 years old in two weeks.

The “Honoring Our Veterans” focus of the Festival and Pow Wow holds special pride for Kathy Fortin, the recently appointed executive director of North Bay Indian Friendship Centre. Fortin is the daughter of Veteran Tom Saville who was in France and Germany in WWII.

“We started out with an education day on Friday. We heard from a WWII veteran, a Vietnam veteran and an Afghanistan Veteran who presented on PTSD. It was really touching.”

In WWI, 4000 Indigenous men signed up with the Canadian Expeditionary Force. In WWII, 3000 First Nations people served in the war. The Devil’s Brigade was famous for its reconnaissance.

Days start early during Maamwi Kindaaswin says Kathy Fortin. She invited people from all walks of life to join in the festivities showcasing Indigenous culture. “We joined in the Sunrise Ceremony at 4:30 am, to greet the sun coming up in the morning.”

A sacred fire was maintained in the tee pee during Maamwi Kindaaswin.  I made an offering of tobacco and cedar to visit. Ricky Jalabrois took his role as the powwow’s fire-keeper seriously.

“Fire-keeping is important because when ceremonies are going on with many nations, there has always been one fire-keeper to watch over the fire. The fire-keeper would act as a watch too; say if there was a sweat ceremony going on. You must keep negativity away.”

“I also must make sure it is taken care of the right way. No garbage is thrown in. The fire is being respected.”

“Fire can talk to you, if you feel with your heart.”

There were singing contests during the 2015 Maamwi Kindaaswin Festival and Pow Wow. The Werly Mianscum Men’s Traditional Special winner is Bruce Smoke. The Old Style Singing Contest winner is Young Creek Singers & Sportsmanship award went to Crazy Spirit Singers.

Over a hundred dancers registered to participate.  All dancers and singers received an honorarium for performing in the festival.

Festival organizer Vice-Chair, Paige Restoule estimates that over 6300 people attended the three days of events.