Youth drive thirst for traditional culture at 30th Nipissing First Nation Pow Wow
By Kelly Anne Smith
NIPISSING FIRST NATION—Nipissing First Nation citizens take great care to choose who will fill the roles needed for a successful pow wow. Those selected also take great care living up to the responsibility given.
The 30th Annual Traditional Nipissing First Nation Pow Wow has hundreds of people behind making it a success. Bob Goulais has been a pow wow master of ceremonies for years. His experience shows in his smooth as silk delivery with a microphone. He says he’s been doing it for a long time.
“Preparation is in knowing what the protocols are of the local community and I’m from here so it’s a little easier. It’s getting instructions from the pow wow committee about what specials they want to have and being able to line it up in terms of who is going to sing for those specials.”
Goulais didn’t miss an extra second segueing from the end of the interview, to encouraging the gathering to thank the drum group Young Eagle for their song that just ended.
Sitting close by is Perry McLeod-Shabogesic, the male Elder of the Nipissing First Nation Pow Wow. He explained his role as being an advisor.
“Whenever we have ceremonies or big social events like this, sometimes issues come up and the gathering looks to someone for guidance to help resolve an issue. It also brings an element of respect and spirituality to the gathering to have a recognized Elder. There is usually both male and female Elders to have that balance.”
This is the first time McLeod-Shabogesic attends his community’s pow wow as an Elder.
“I still don’t necessarily consider myself an Elder but that is something that is not for me to decide. It is not for the person to decide. That is for the community to make that decision. You can’t go and say ‘I’m an Elder now’. When you take on a role like that, it’s important to acknowledge where that request is coming from and try your best to fulfill it.”
McLeod-Shabogesic says the youth are like dry sponges absorbing traditional culture.
“The youth are hungry for this. Even this gathering, it is growing every year. A lot of that has to do with the youth and the pressure they put on their parents to come, to have an outfit, to have their name, and to know their clan. Parents that didn’t grow up with that, their children are now asking for it and are growing up with it. Their parents are being led to get their own names and maybe dance and maybe get an outfit too. It’s the youth that are driving that. It’s what they want so we are providing it for them.”
A St. Josephs Scollard Hall Catholic Secondary School student was a firekeeper at the 30th Nipissing First Nation Pow Wow. At just 14-years-old, Joshua Myles takes his commitment to the Sacred Fire seriously. He had shifts every day for the four days of the pow wow ceremonies.
Petitions are given to the Sacred Fire. I was instructed by Joshua in a whispered voice so as not to disturb a man who was standing at the Sacred Fire. I must use only my left hand for holding the sage, tobacco, cedar, and sweet grass and then to offer the medicines into the fire.
Joshua kept all of the medicine bowls full and monitored behaviour around the fire.
“They can’t throw trash in the fire. They cannot talk disrespectfully or negatively around the fire. If they do, they have to be outside of the surrounding circle…” explained the young fire keeper. “It’s very honourable that they chose me and also my brother. It’s a huge responsibility and not many people get to do it. It’s fun and I get to meet a lot of new people as they drop the tobacco in the fire and say their prayers.”
During the pow wow, Brooklyn Melissa Sawyer was crowned 2018 Miss Nipissing First Nation while Sassa Linklater was crowned Junior Miss Nipissing First Nation.
Angel Armstrong, a jingle dancer, was lead female dancer and grass dancer Steve Teekens was head male dancer. The male youth lead dancer was Trent Beaucage and Georgia Mianskum was lead female youth dancer of the 30th Annual Nipissing First Nation Traditional Pow Wow.