Annual pow wow welcomes students to higher education in North Bay
By Kelly Anne Smith
NORTH BAY—Hundreds of students attended the 19th Annual Welcome Back Powwow on the grass by the pond at North Bay’s Education Centre to experience traditional dancing, drumming, vendors, and a good lunch.
The Office of Indigenous Initiatives at Nipissing University and the First Peoples Centre at Canadore College jointly hosted the Annual Welcome Pow Wow on Sept. 13.
Nipissing First Nation Gimaa Cathy Bellefeuille-Stevens welcomed the students.
“Welcome to the territory that our Nation has been living on for over 10,000 years. The DNA of our ancestors is in these lands. I say miigwech for everyone coming to share in this wonderful time to gather with such beautiful weather,” Chief Bellefeuille-Stevens expressed. “It’s been an awesome relationship that Nipissing (First Nation) has had with Canadore and Nipissing University throughout the years. I think this is an amazing time…We always look forward to this opportunity to gather together. There are Indigenous people from all around, not just our Nipissing Nation members here, obviously, but it’s a moment to share in our Indigenous resiliency that we’re still here after all these years.”
The Nipissing University Indigenous Council of Education Chair Maurice Switzer, who is also the President of the North Bay Indigenous Friendship Centre, said the pow wow had a wonderful turnout.
“This is a beautiful campus. I don’t know if there are any other campuses in Canada that have this many Indigenous students. I know Nipissing University graduated over 90 students last year, of which we are all very proud.”
Switzer explained that there are 8,000 First Nation, Métis, and Inuit people living in the city of North Bay.
“That’s a huge contribution to the city’s economy. We’re pleased to be here on First Nation territory. We really welcome everybody here back. This is the 19th joint pow wow. We hope you have a wonderful day and a wonderful school year. Miigwech.”
The pow wow brings together students, dancers, and community members in celebration of the hope and hard work ahead for the student’s successful academic year.
A pow wow organizer, Nipissing University’s Office of Indigenous Initiatives Ricki-Lee Scheck from Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory is the Indigenous Student Success and Development Coordinator. Scheck says she has learned a lot in the planning of the pow wow, which she calls a celebratory good start to get everyone ready for the new school year.
“It’s a payoff because you get to see all this come together. Everyone is here and the pow wow is happening. It’s great to see new faces and returning faces. That’s what it’s all about, welcoming everyone back to campus,” Scheck expresses. “It brings together people of all kinds of backgrounds and people who might be familiar with Indigenous culture and people who are Indigenous themselves and people who aren’t, who want to learn more.”
Brooklyn Sawyer welcomed the students to the Education Centre. Sawyer is in her fourth and final year of Indigenous Studies with a minor in Gender Equality and Social Justice. From Nipissing First Nation, she is a Nipissing University Student Representative.
“The pow wow is specifically for Indigenous people at the beginning of the school year. It allows for people to meet new peers and new friends. It also shows them that we do have that Indigenous representation here and we make that a huge importance in this university.”
Sawyer did notice an uptake in attendance this year compared to last.
“Last year, I was head dancer. I did notice as soon as I got here, there’s double the people that were here from the previous year. And it looks like it’s going to pick up some more.”
Lorraine Liberty-Whiteduck was Head Elder and Jason Nakogee was Head Veteran. MC Lester Mianscum introduced Cody McKenzie-Sackaney as Head Male Dancer while Head Female Dancer was Bee Dokis. Arena Director Tory Fisher ensured protocol.
The Grand Entry was performed by Host Drum High Ridge. Invited Drums were The Red Tail Hawk Singers and Mkwa Dodem.