Lakehead University kicks off pow wow trail with 34th Annual Indigenous Cultural Traditions Club Powwow
By Rick Garrick
THUNDER BAY — Lakehead University’s 34th Annual Indigenous Cultural Traditions Club Powwow was a success with about 11 drums, more than 200 dancers, and about 20 vendors and 17 corporate sponsors on March 8-10 at the CJ Sanders Fieldhouse on the Thunder Bay campus.
“The pow wow went really good — it’s the first pow wow of the new year and it’s the pow wow everybody kind of looks forward to coming to to kick-start the pow wow season,” says Todd Genno, emcee at the pow wow and Biigtigong Nishnaabeg citizen. “It’s so nice seeing the young people being involved because at the end of the day, this is what it’s all about, keeping this alive for them and showing them this is what we need to do so they can pass it down when they get to my age. [My daughter] was one of the dancers — she came out and danced her different styles.”
Biigtigong Nishnaabeg’s Nicole Richmond says the pow wow is always a great spring pow wow.
“People come from very far and it has a reputation for being excellent,” Richmond says. “It’s completely student-run and it’s a great way to give back to the community. Lakehead University is really a cultural anchor for the Anishinabe community in this region and we’re always happy to be here.”
Fort William Elder Sheila DeCorte says there was an awesome turnout at the pow wow.
“What’s different this year is they have the vendors in a different area of the university, up on the upper level there, which opens up a lot more space down here on floor where the drums and the dancers are,” DeCorte says. “So, it opens up the dancing arena space and allows for more seating.”
Pays Plat’s Raymond Goodchild says the pow wow was excellent, noting that he enjoyed seeing the young dancers.
“I enjoy it, I think it’s very spiritual and cultural and there’s a lot of healing going on here today,” Goodchild says. “You see all our young people dancing, that was excellent.”
Fort William Elder Marlene Pierre says she enjoyed seeing friends at the pow wow, noting that she was a traditional dancer but is slowing down now.
“I super enjoyed this pow wow, all the new outfits that people have been working on over the winter,” Pierre says. “You’re seeing a lot of Jingle Dresses that have copper and coloured jingles, it’s just absolutely beautiful.”
Fort William’s Jeordi Pierre says it was a beautiful pow wow, noting that he attended the pow wow with the Pierre family drum.
“We had an absolutely great time here sharing our songs and sharing the way of the [Anishinabek] people of this territory,” Jeordi says. “It’s nice to see all the young small toddlers dance around here having a great time. [It’s] a great atmosphere, I love it.”
Biigtigong Nishnaabeg’s Nathaniel Moses says the pow wow was “spectacular with a lot of people and a lot of colour.”
“I would like to thank all the people who travelled from far away to Thunder Bay to celebrate the LU pow wow,” Moses says. “[COVID-19] actually took a lot of our powwows out of the stream of things, but I’m glad to see the people back today, younger generations are actually pulling up their socks to kind of continue the Elders’ ways.”
Biigtigong Nishnaabeg’s Tanya Moses says she loves the pow wow.
“This is the pow wow that usually kicks-off the pow wow trail,” Tanya says. “This is where you can be out there to dance, to heal, dance for others, dance for yourself, and just be around others, watch the young ones and even the Elders, so it’s a very beautiful gathering.”
Jordan Thompson-Vankoughnett, president at Lakehead University’s Indigenous Cultural Traditions Club and second-year Indigenous Education student, says the pow wow was fabulous, noting it was larger than last year’s pow wow.
“It was an incredible turnout, the amount of people that were coming in and out throughout both Saturday and Sunday was just incredible to see,” Thompson-Bankoughnett says. “This year, in terms of total volunteers, we had over 100, which was incredible to see. In terms of students, I’d say maybe about 50 of them were students.”