‘Why We Dance’ Series: Leaira Solomon

In an effort to lift everyone’s spirit during this time where we are all staying home, the Anishinabek News did a call out on social media for dancers to submit their stories.  The summer series is called:  Why We Dance.

Everyone dances for a different reason.  Some are just learning.  Some feel that it’s a connection to their home and culture.  Others dance for healing or to celebrate a personal triumph.  And some are competitive dancers. Whatever the reason, our hearts lift up as we see them enter through the Eastern Doorway and join the circle.  Pow-Wow dances are expressions of self and spirituality, history and culture.  There are many different types of dances and many different styles of regalia to go with the dances.  Dances tell important stories – both personal and cultural. 

The Anishinabek News hopes this series brings you light and hope during these times of uncertainty, and inspiration to keep moving forward on your journey – whatever it may be; or maybe even dance.   

By Leaira Solomon, Garden River First Nation

I dance for all of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) and anyone who affected by MMIWG so that everyone can realize that this issue is a big deal.

I dance for the sick to get better and the healthy to stay healthy. I dance for my family, friends and the Elders in my community to be healthy and stay safe.

I dance for the reserves who don’t have clean fresh water to drink and the reserves that are going through poverty. I dance for everyone who can’t dance right now. I dance for the land and the water and for all of our warriors on the front lines.

Dancing makes me feel connected to my culture. It’s become a big part of who I am and the new “family” I’ve met at powwows has taught me so many things.

I come from a very proud family, but one that didn’t grow up knowing our culture because my grandpa was a Residential School Survivor, and so were his brothers and sister, so our culture was stolen. But I’ve always felt this need inside of me to dance. It was like my ancestors calling to me.

When I dance, I honour all of the Day School and Residential Schools Survivors and all the ones who passed away and faced years of abuse and torture. My spirit name is East Wind Woman, I was gifted this name a couple of years ago from an Elder who was close to me. She said the name came to her because I was always moving and that’s how I am when I dance. I don’t want to stop.

My auntie takes me to all the powwows locally and I make her dance the intertribals with me. Through her, I met my “auntie” Steph, she was a Jingle Dress Dancer, but she just recently switched to Fancy. I love watching her dance. She moves like a butterfly and she’s really deadly. I like when my family watches me. I want to show my brothers how much fun it is. Dancing makes me feel proud. I dance for all of these things. I dance for all my relations. And I dance because it makes my soul feel healed.