The Power of Family Memories series: Tarah-Lynn Remillard
In a continued effort to lift everyone’s spirit during this time where we are all staying home, the Anishinabek News did a call out to the Anishinabek Nation E’Dbendaagzijig to submit their favourite pow wow memory they share with their family for the series: The Power of Family Memories.
Family can be a group people you are related to or a group of special people that have become your family along the way. Family can be something different for everyone – but whatever your family looks like, it’s your family! Do you and your family plan your summers around the pow wow trail? Did your auntie make you your first regalia? Let’s celebrate pow wows together!
The Anishinabek News hopes this series brings you light and hope during these challenging times of uncertainty, and inspiration to keep moving forward on your journey – whatever it may be; or maybe even dance.
By Tarah-Lynn Remillard
One of my favourite pow wow memories is when my whole family was at the Nipissing First Nation pow wow. My family is large so to have all of them there was nice. My mother had her wheelchair, and my sister-in-law was pregnant with my first niece. The funny part for me was that my niece could feel the drum and she loved it — she was just kicking up a storm in the womb. My brother was there along with my dad. I always enjoy going to pow wows because I get to see a lot of friends who I don’t get the chance to see often. I saw so many people who had watched me grow up and know what culture and language mean to me.
My family in one big huddle went for a walk just to wander and see all of the vendors. I met up with my younger cousin Alexander and his mom. He and I continued to walk and we saw a beautiful mural of the Treaty of Niagara wampum belt by Nipissing First Nation artist Don Chretien. For me, that mural means a lot because it reminds me of when my cousin Alex first started designing the LEGO wampum belt, now used in the We Are All Treat People educational resource, and seeing how Don made his mural look like the singular beads makes me remember the LEGO bricks. I remember this pow wow fondly because it made for great family memories. We were there together all day and it seemed like the day never wanted to end, or maybe it was just the fact that I didn’t want it to end.
I always feel that pow wows are a time for all and the fact that I never want them to end is just reminding me of how much they mean to me. Pow wows in my family mean a gathering of loved ones. We see family we haven’t seen in a year. We see family that we haven’t seen since childhood. That pow wow was nice because everyone was so excited for the new baby to come soon and it was nice to see the smiles on my family’s face.
I remember just looking at Grand Entry and then watching as we just walked around and had a good time. That was the year that I was asked for the Closing Ceremony to walk the Indian Residential School Survivor staff.
It was so nice just having the day with family; seeing the pow wow grounds and the fire – serving as a reminder as to why I love being an Anishnaabekwe, why I love the language, and why I am trying so hard to keep the teachings with them. That pow wow memory still makes me smile just thinking back to all the walking with my sister to get food from the vendors, wandering with my cousin, and seeing the smile on my mom’s face. Remembering the smiles on all my family members’ faces makes it all worthwhile and keeps me longing for more. For me, that is one of my favourite pow wows until my niece came into the world, but that is a story for another time.