Matawa Health Co-operative youth pow wow brings together youth and youth-at-heart
By Rick Garrick
THUNDER BAY — The Matawa Health Co-operative hosted the Youth Powwow during the Tournament of Hope and it was a hit with youth and other dancers on April 10 at the Valhalla Hotel and Conference Centre in Thunder Bay.
“It’s great because when they first started, it was to encourage the youth to participate and that’s what we want, this Tournament of Hope is all for the youth, all for the children,” says Long Lake #58 Councillor Narcisse Kakegabon, whose community is one of the Matawa communities. “I like the dancers, singers, participation, [and] to get my grandson involved in the circle and hopefully keep it going in our family.”
Anishinabek Nation Getzidjig Advisory Council member Getzit Mishomis James Mishquart, from Biinjitiwaabik Zaaging Anishinaabek, says there was a “good crowd” of people at the Youth Powwow.
“It was really nice to see all the people getting together again,” Mishquart says. “I was really happy to see a lot of the young people. You don’t see too much of the real elderly people any more, a lot of them are gone, all singers and dancers. I’m glad I made it here.”
Fort William’s Nevaeh Morriseau says it was important to gather as a community to support the youth at the Youth Powwow and the Tournament of Hope, a hockey and broomball tournament for First Nation youth.
“They’re supporting us so we’re coming out to have a good time with everyone,” Morriseau says. “There’s no age limit on youth, we’re all youth at heart and there’s still that youth left in us. We need to build that child back up again and we can do that by coming together and do what we’re doing here, practising our ways of life.”
Biigtigong Nishnaabeg’s Nicole Richmond says there was an “amazing turnout” at the Youth Powwow.
“The youth are always watching us and as pow wow veterans we have a responsibility to role model what it looks like to live the good life, and we always have a good time pow wowing in Thunder Bay,” Richmond says. “Matawa Health Co-operative does amazing community work and they’re a great supporter for cultural revitalization.”
Biigtigong Nishnaabeg’s Eryn Genno enjoyed the Youth Powwow, noting that it was “really good.”
“I had a lot of fun and I think everyone here had a lot of fun,” Genno says. “I was wearing a new dress gifted to me by my auntie Nicole Richmond and it’s my new favourite because it’s pink. She made it for me because I’m always helping her cone dresses. I’ve helped her cone a few dresses and that’s how we learn and share knowledge.”
Fort William’s Celina Reitberger and Elysia Petrone also enjoyed the Youth Powwow.
“It’s great, my little grandchildren are just having the best time and it’s a wonderful social health giving occasion,” Reitberger says, noting that she saw other young children in the circle. “They’re just adorable, this is when they need to learn it, when they’re very young.”
“It’s a great time to be together, the seasons are changing and it’s nice to just hear the drum and to be out to see friendly faces,” Petrone says. “It’s nice, [my children] get to see their friends from the summer circuit, they get to [do some] dancing so it’s all good.”
Red Rock Indian Band’s Ron Kanutski, emcee at the Youth Powwow, says there was a good turnout with people from Robinson Superior, Robinson Huron, Treaty #3, and Nishnawbe Aski Nation communities at the Youth Powwow.
“It was a super success and it really brought a lot of people out here to celebrate our traditions and our good life, so it was awesome,” Kanutski says. “There were some first-time dancers here for sure and people that have been just introduced to the pow wow for the first time. People had a great time here, it was a lot of fun.”