Anishinabek youth dance for healing
By Rick Garrick
FORT WILLIAM FIRST NATION — A group of youth enjoyed dancing during the Anishinabek Nation’s Eshki-niigijig Maawanjidiwaad 2023 Youth Gathering drum social on Aug. 12 at the Anemki Wajiw pow wow grounds in Fort William First Nation.
“I dance woodland so that’s the style I brought out here tonight,” says Pierre Debassige, Eshki-niigijig Advisory Council Lake Huron male representative from M’Chigeeng. “At a lot of our Anishinabek Nation events, mostly our youth gatherings, there’s always some sort of drum social, whether that be a round dance or a big drum, so I always bring my regalia up to these. Even if I don’t ever have an opportunity to dance at some events, sometimes I can just showcase my regalia. It’s really important because there’s a lot of youth here that are wanting to return back to their culture and learn to dance and make regalia.”
Debassige says he began dancing as soon as he could walk.
“I’ve always been a pow wow dancer,” Debassige says.
Brittnee Waindubence, Eshki-niigijig Advisory Council Lake Huron female representative from Sheguiandah, says it was important to dance during the drum social because it brings healing to those who need it and cannot walk or dance.
“I’ve been dancing since I was three-years-old,” Waindubence says. “I’ve never been here [on Anemki Wajiw] and it’s absolutely beautiful. When I go back to Manitoulin Island, I’m going to tell my family about this place and I’m going to bring them here for the pow wow.”
Waindubence says she appreciated seeing the youth who attended the Eshki-niigijig Maawanjidiwaad 2023 Youth Gathering, which was held from Aug. 10-13 at Lakehead University’s Thunder Bay campus.
“It’s just amazing to see how much youth actually want to come and learn and be a part of Anishinabek Nation,” Waindubence says.
Grace Day, a youth from Aamjiwnaang, also enjoyed dancing during the drum social.
“I’ve been practising for about a couple of months now,” Day says. “My mom is making my regalia so I can dance for the first time out, so I’m just practising and doing all this and it makes me happy and it’s like medicine to me.”
Emery Wesley, a drummer with the Walking Bear Singers from Ginoogaming, says they enjoyed passing down some teachings during the drum social.
“[We] let anyone who wants to drum, drum and just have a good time, have fun,” Wesley says, noting that they began their drum group after one of the drummers was gifted with a drum and have been consistently practising for about three years. “When we got that drum, it was an awesome gift. It’s our favourite thing to do, you build so many memories and good laughs around the drum and spread so much healing. It’s helped all of us, it’s helped me personally with a lot of stuff, and other things like that.”
Eric Day, a youth from Aamjiwnaang, says he enjoyed joining in to drum with the Walking Bear Singers during the drum social.
“I was like, ‘Why not? It looks fun’,” Eric says. “I liked the experience of it, it’s really nice to kind of learn most of the stuff.”
Brittnay Meunier-Gauthier, special projects coordinator at the Anishinabek Nation, says the Eshki-niigijig Maawanjidiwaad 2023 Youth Gathering was held to bring youth together and make sure there was a space for youth to bring their voices, concerns and ideas to the political forefront.
“The weekend consisted of not only learning about Anishinabek governance systems, how to get involved in youth advocacy but also those cultural aspects of beading workshops, hide workshops, the youth drum social and teachings throughout as well,” Meunier-Gauthier says.