North Bay Indigenous Friendship Centre Pow Wow – Maamwi Kindaaswin – celebrates families

By Kelly Anne Smith

NORTH BAY—As the sun rose, so too did the spirit of Maamwi Kindaaswin on the traditional territory of Nipissing First Nation.

The spring pow wow celebration held by the North Bay Indigenous Friendship Centre took place June 9-10 at Lee Park in North Bay. Many people joined in a huge circle witnessing the Grand Entry, Flag Song, dignitaries and dancers.

Head veteran was Philip Moore and lead dancers were Katherine Sarazin and Ned Benson. Sarazin, who is also the president of the North Bay Indigenous Friendship Centre (NBIFC), was called to the stage along with Executive Director Kathy Fortin.

A special Blanket presentation was made to President Katherine Sarazin for her active long-time involvement in the NBIFC and to Fortin for her passionate leadership for basic need services and cultural enrichment for clients and neighbours.

Lily Couchie and Bernice Kossees presented the work of art to Sarazin and Fortin. Couchie told the crowd that the blanket was entirely handstitched by Elders of the Life Long Care Program. The blanket features the centre’s new name of including Indigenous.

Kathy Fortin says the Maamwi Kindaaswin celebration begins with the rising sun for the two-day pow wow. A Sunrise Ceremony was held at 4:45AM each day.

“We are celebrating life. We are celebrating the ones that have passed on. It is also a gathering of family. A lot of our relatives go home for the winter months way up north. And then we all gather in the summer time to celebrate and this is the way that we celebrate and we are sharing it with North Bay, showing our dances and our songs.

All the while, the Sacred Fire Keeper Justice Martin of Ginoogaming First Nation kept a close watch to keep the sacred embers glowing.

Roger Assiniwe directed the arena and Gary Dokis was the emcee. High Ridge was host drum with North Bay Singers co-hosting.