‘A pow wow to remember’ series: Leaira Solomon
In a continued effort to lift everyone’s spirit during this time where we are all staying home, the Anishinabek News did a call out to the Anishinabek Nation to submit their fondest pow wow memory. The spring series is called: A pow wow to remember.
Some go to pow wows to see the beautiful regalia. Others go to feel the strength of the beating drum. Some go to connect with family and friends. One way or another, pow wows draw us all in for one reason or many, but above all else, it’s to come together and celebrate us and those who came before us. Our traditions. Our culture. Our language. Our authenticity and identity. While the 2021 pow wow season may be impacted by the global pandemic, let’s use our memories from pow wows past to help us maintain our strength and perseverance.
The Anishinabek News hopes this series brings you light and hope during these challenging times of uncertainty, and inspiration to keep moving forward on your journey – whatever it may be; or maybe even dance.
The 2021 Great Lakes Pow Wow Guide can be found here.
By Leaira Solomon, Garden River First Nation
Aanii, Leaira miinewaa, East Wind Woman n’dishnikaas, Ketnegaunseebee n’doonjabaa, Mukwa n’dodem. Hi, Leaira is my name. East Wind Woman is my spirit name, I live in Garden River First Nation, and belong to the Bear Clan.
My very first Jingle Dress was gifted to me by my auntie Rachel. I was four years old when I told my mom I had a vision that I was dancing at a pow wow and I had this beautiful pink Jingle Dress. She told my auntie about it and a few months later, I was surprised with a pink Jingle Dress. I remember feeling proud when I put it on and danced at my first pow wow. Fast forward eight years and I am still dancing whenever I can. One of my most favourite powwow memories was bringing my little cousin to the Algoma University pow wow in 2020.
At the powwow, I got to bring my little cousin Elaina out to dance for her very first time. She loved dancing and I hope that we can get back to dancing soon. That powwow was the last pow wow I went to before the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). At the powwow, I also got to dance with my aunt Steph, she is a Fancy Shawl Dancer. She dances like a butterfly— beautifully and gracefully. At the powwow, my aunt Rachel gifted me an Eagle Fan that belonged to my great aunt Keina, who gifted it to her. It has three feathers and fringes at the bottom. I also had the honour of helping my auntie’s friend, Matthew, with a blanket dance so he could raise money to get back to his home in British Columbia. Matthew walked for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women from British Columbia to Nova Scotia. The walk took him a whole year to complete, and he is now in the process of writing a book of his walk. He is also planning a bike ride across Canada when the COVID-19 global pandemic is over.
Powwow has allowed me to meet people like Matthew and having my little cousin be there to experience that with me feels like I am preparing our future generations to continue reclaiming our indigeneity. This global pandemic has changed our lives forever. Through technology and social media, I have been able to still dance, just on a different platform.
The picture I have submitted with this essay is of my little cousin Elaina and I at the last pow wow we were able to attend. I love that my first Jingle Dress was passed down to my cousin, and I hope she passes it down to her kids or another member of our family. My family did not grow up dancing, but I am proudly breaking the cycle of not knowing our culture through dance, my art and voice. I will continue my journey with dance and advocacy as long as the spirit lives in me.
Miigwetch for taking the time to read about one of my favourite powwow memories.