Lakehead University Indigenous Students’ Association celebrates 36th annual pow wow
By Rick Garrick
THUNDER BAY — Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory’s Cheryl May was recognized with first-place honours in the women’s dance special at the Lakehead University Indigenous Students’ Association’s 36th Annual Powwow, held March 13-15 at the Hangar on the Thunder Bay campus.
“It was really exciting,” May says. “I’m originally from Onigaming, Lake of the Woods area, and my mom was one of the original Jingle Dress dancers way back in the early 80s. She taught me how to dance and I’ve stuck with it ever since.”
May says she danced Fancy Shawl when she was younger and then switched to the Jingle Dress when she was 19-years-old.
“It’s a healing dress, so when you’re wearing it, you’re dancing for the people, you’re dancing for healing for yourself and others that you think of,” May says.
May says she loved the pow wow grounds, which were located on the artificial turf field in the Hangar.
“It reminds me of outside because it’s got the spring back,” May says.
Fort William’s Nevaeh Morriseau-Charlie, head woman dancer at the pow wow, says it was an honour and privilege to serve as the head woman dancer.
“It’s really rewarding because I’m able to share my style of dance, to share the floor with so many other beautiful dancers, and just spread good medicine, good vibes, (and) visit with so many different people,” Morriseau-Charlie says. “There’s no words to describe how amazing it is to carry the honour of serving as the head woman dancer.”
Morriseau-Charlie says she enjoyed singing along with the Walking Bear and Rolling Thunder drum groups during the pow wow.
“And we had my pop-up special last night that my family and I hosted,” Morriseau-Charlie says. “It went really beautifully, there were so many beautiful dancers and I was so happy to be in their presence. It allowed them to showcase their style in such a fun way.”
Biigtigong Nishnaabeg’s Todd Genno, emcee at the pow wow, says the candy dance they held at the pow wow was initially started by the late Elder Freda McDonald.
“She wanted to do something special for the children, so she started this candy dance to give back to the circle and also to the children because we know the children are the centre of everything we do in our life and in our culture and in our ceremony,” Genno says. “It was very important to her that the children were the centre of everything, so it was just a way to honour and acknowledge them and to give them something that they love.”
Fort William’s Jeordi Pierre, operator of the School of Indigenous Learning (SOIL), says this was the third year that SOIL held a special dance and donated money to encourage young people to continue dancing and to live the good life, mino-bimaadiziwin.
“Every year we’ve been getting bigger and bigger, we’ve been adding more and more money to our donation for these young ones,” Pierre says. “It was a way of life that I got to live and it’s so important that our young people have that opportunity to live that same lifestyle that I was blessed with.”
Biigtigong Nishnaabeg’s Carmela Moses, spiritual advisor at the pow wow, says the pow wow was really great.
“There’s a lot of good energy in here, there’s a lot of healing being done, a lot of people come and ask for a smudge, for medicine, so, yes, it’s a good atmosphere in here,” Moses says.
“This is our second year in here (the Hangar) and being a dancer myself, it’s actually nice to dance on that turf out there.”
Long Lake #58’s Aiden Sagutch, a member of the Suckle Creek drum group, says it was an amazing experience to drum at the pow wow.
“It’s cool connecting with your culture and getting around, seeing people,” Sagutch says. “I love [the pow wow], there’s a lot of cool dancers and a bunch of cool singers and cool songs.”
Biigtigong Nishnaabeg’s Nathaniel Moses says the pow wow is getting bigger with more younger dancers, noting that many had learned from the older dancers over the years.
“I see a full room of beautiful colour and young spirits,” Nathaniel says. “I actually noticed some people all the way from Wiikwemkoong. I like the old style but I also like the contemporary style; no matter the style they choose, they’re all looking good. I’d like to thank all the people who celebrate the circle and make it strong, the more the merrier, the better and stronger the circle will be.”