Canadore College celebrates 30th Pow Wow anniversary
By Kelly Anne Smith
NORTH BAY— Everyone was welcome at the 30th annual Canadore Pow Wow themed Looking Back. The stands were full in Canadore’s gym Feb. 1, as the First Peoples’ Centre and the Canadore Aboriginal Students Association (CASA) hosted the highly anticipated event.
Special recognition was given to Honourary Head Dancers Kevin Wassegijig and Christine Miigwans as they were the first head dancers of the pow wow 30 years ago.
Wassegijig of Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory was also the first CASA president.
“There was a group of us,” he said. “We had the idea to get the student association going.”
Speaking to the crowd, Wassegijig acknowledged all the students who work year after year to put on the pow wow and friends who helped start the pow wow.
“Kirby is here. My brother and Lester are here – another one to guide me in my formative years. A group of us students had the crazy idea of having a pow wow here at Canadore College and it’s a reality. Chi-miigwetch to everybody that’s been involved and I’m looking forward to another thirty to fifty years.”
Wassegijig also spoke of Christine Miigwans of M’Chigeeng First Nation, saying she was one of the first to help. Miigwans said 30 years was quite an accomplishment.
“It shows how much this college seriously takes Indigenous education and how much pride the students have in a community celebration,” he explained. “The community understands how valuable our young peoples are and that they have a lot of support around them in their studies. People will travel from a distance to come here and support the young people.”
“It’s really challenging to be in school. Sometimes it’s very stressful managing multiple deadlines. For one weekend, we take this time out to celebrate with them and encourage them. We want to see their successes here at Canadore College,” added Wassegijig. “I commend all the leaders for these students. The ones that work with the students each and every year for the past thirty years to keep a beautiful legacy happening in the community. We recognize the community members that come. It’s really important that your support is here for these students celebrating.”
Recruitment and Retention Officer with the First People’s Centre, Gerald Peltier, recognized the hard work put into the pow wow.
“All the past builders, all the drums that have spent their time coming to our pow wow for the past thirty years, all our dancers, all our vendors, all the people who make it happen behind the scenes. It couldn’t happen without all the volunteers.”
Elder Lorraine WhiteDuck Liberty of Nipissing First Nation called on women to come forward as she lifted the water saying, “Pick up that copper vessel and do the work that we’ve been asked to do by Gichi-manidoo.”
“We know how to take care of our water. We know how to take care of our children and we know how to take care of our family when it comes to the water,” said WhiteDuck Liberty. “We go forward. Each day we think of that water that’s beginning to flow. She’ll begin to flow and bring life to us. When that life comes, it begins to feed all life. Then we are there to work with that water. To make sure and to ensure that we have clean water for the next generation. For the Seventh Generation that is coming up. For our great, great, grandchildren. We are prepared to do that work as Anishinaabekwe… At the end of May when that water begins to flow, we will be gathering as women. We will be learning the songs and learning the petitions. We’ll be with our hand drums in those songs to the water so that water will always be pure and clean and forward. It will always flow forward for us.”
Grand entry dignitaries included Canadore Aboriginal Students Association President Margaret Jamieson-Hopkins, Canadore College President George Burton, North Bay Councillor Joanne Brazeau, Susan Van der Rassel of Métis Nation, and Member of Parliament for Nipissing—Timiskaming and Speaker of the House Anthony Rota. Also in the circle was Veteran Clarence Trapper and Elder Peter Beaucage. Helen Rose Wabano carried the two-spirit flag.
Miigwan Buswa was the Head Female Dancer and Male Head Dancer was Mckenzie Ottereyes-Eagle.
Rodney Stanger directed the arena as Kirby Mianscum emceed. Drum groups included host drum Weskutch Singers, co-host Ottawa River, invited Poplar Singers, invited Black Bull Moose Singers, Garden Village, Cree Nation, Moose Factory, One Nation, Good Spirit, Mush Kuuz Win, and Crazy Horn.
Approximately 500 Indigenous students attend Canadore College.