Biinjitiwaabik Zaaging Anishinaabek celebrates 31st Traditional Annual Pow Wow
By Rick Garrick
BIINJITIWAABIK ZAAGING ANISHINAABEK—Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Glen Hare enjoyed participating in Biinjitiwaabik Zaaging Anishinaabek’s (BZA) 31st Traditional Annual Pow Wow after delivering a load of donated clothing and supplies to the community on Aug. 25.
“It’s really awesome,” Hare says. “I always have a good time when I come to our Superior Region. Our new (Northern Superior Region) Deputy Grand Chief Ed Wawia was with us here today and so was the chief of the community.”
BZA Chief Mel Hardy says the community enjoys Grand Council Chief Hare’s visits.
“He’s pretty personable — he sits and talks with the women, the children, the men,” Hardy says. “He’s approachable and that’s why people like him coming around.”
Hardy says the community members also look forward to the deliveries of donated clothing and supplies from the Fenelon Falls for First Peoples volunteer group in southern Ontario.
“We do have a lot of people working this summer and this year, but there are still challenges when it comes to being able to provide the basic necessities to our people,” Hardy says, noting that the community usually gets together for a luncheon when the donations are delivered. “All of this equipment is given away. So people really appreciate Glen for that.”
Grand Council Chief Hare says the Pow Wow was an added “bonus” to his trip.
“I’m staying an extra two days,” Grand Council Chief Hare says. “I meet with all the Elders. I know a lot of people here now. It just grew over the years, so yeah, I feel at home.”
Grand Council Chief Hare adds that he encouraged the Elders and youth to look at the symbol of the clan teachings medallion that an Elder asked him to wear.
“We need to go back to our clan teachings,” Grand Council Chief Hare says. “I’m in the loon clan. The loon is the leader, and I’ve been a leader now going on 34 years.”
Grand Council Chief Hare says the truckload of donations included a hospital bed, a wheelchair and some walkers.
“There’s baby stuff [and other items] for the young and all ages,” Grand Council Chief Hare says. “There’s all kinds of clothes, but there was also about 50 boxes [for the] neighbouring community, Red Rock Indian Band. They bought that Chalet Lodge and they fixed it up, and now they want to put everything in there. So I brought 50 boxes up of saucers, dishes, cups, cutlery, everything.”
Grand Council Chief Hare says there is “strong support” from the communities for him to continue with the distribution of donated clothing and supplies even though he is now the Grand Council Chief. He has delivered many loads of clothing and supplies to communities across Anishinabek Nation territory over the past two years.
“I’m still going to deliver; the people are happy,” Grand Council Chief Hare says. “I know one of our roles is to help the less fortunate as much as anyone else, so that is what we are doing.”
Maryann Mickelson, family well-being worker with BZA, says the community members are “excited” when the truckload of donations arrive.
“If there is somebody without or having struggles or if [a parent] just got custody of children and they don’t have clothes, this helps out,” Mickelson says. “They can kind of stock up on some clothing and some shoes until they get on their feet again.”
Mickelson says the donated clothing and supplies usually include baby bundles for expecting mothers, which are set aside for delivery throughout the year.
“They get their baby blankets and little sleepers and some clothes for the first few months of startup and shampoos and stuff like that,” Mickelson says.