‘Why We Dance’ Series: Sheila Karasiewicz
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 Sheila Karasiewicz, Fort William First Nation
It was through my volunteer work with the Thunder Bay 2000 National Aboriginal Day Committee, that introduced me to my first pow wow and to the beat of the drum. By the following year, the pull became so strong that I knew I had to enter the pow wow circle.
I entered the pow wow circle for the very first time on June 21, 2002, as a Fancy Shawl Dancer. I was 41 years old at the time. I chose to enter the pow wow circle on National Aboriginal Day (NAD) because I felt this was the most fitting day since it was this special event that first introduced me to the heartbeat of the drums and to the pow wow trail.
I owe a special thank-you to the NAD organizers and to my dear friend Stephanie Feletto, whom I met on that very first day. She later took this late bloomer under her wing to help guide me into this new cultural journey that I was venturing into. The following week after National Aboriginal Day, I danced for the first time at my community’s annual pow wow held on our sacred mountain, Mount McKay. My first dance in the arena was a special honour song for my particular dance style (Fancy Shawl). Upon entering the arena, it started to rain and it rained for the entire song, then stopped once the song and dance was over. I felt that the rain was tears of joy from my dear mother and my ancestors who have passed onto the Spirit World. By entering the pow wow circle, it had opened a whole new world for me! It began my cultural path of learning about my true identity. The dancing and drum beats had awoken my spirit! I started dancing for healing and rebirthing.
Pow wow dancing continues to feed my true spirit! A Fancy Shawl Dancer represents a butterfly, which certainly represented my journey at that time. I was learning to spread my wings and fly into a whole new world. My cultural world of learning the Anishinaabe way of life, which was unknown to me then. For the last 18 years since entering the pow wow circle, I have continued to grow with much knowledge of my Anishinaabe heritage and cultural roots through ceremonies and by making good connections with many Elders and Traditional Knowledge Keepers as well as learning the language. My spirit is happy!
Over the last few years, I slowly transitioned into a new dance style, Women’s Traditional. However, my spirit prefers the faster beat of the drum and the faster dance steps, which is the Fancy Shawl Dancer style, so you may just catch me switching over from time to time! Miigwech!