Lakehead University hosts 35th annual Indigenous Cultural Traditions Club Powwow
By Rick Garrick
THUNDER BAY — Lakehead University’s 35th annual Indigenous Cultural Traditions Club Powwow, held March 7-9, was a success with more drums and dancers in attendance at its new location in the Hangar sports building.
“It went great, we had a big crowd, the biggest number of drums we’ve ever seen at LU,” says Carmela Moses, spiritual advisor at the pow wow and Biigtigong Nishnaabeg citizen. “We had a total of 15 drums, lots of dancers, lots of spectators, [and] a lot of healing work being done here. In our region, it’s pretty much one of the big pow wows of the year that kind of opens up the spring — it starts that pow wow trail for a lot of us.”
Moses says the Astro turf in the Hangar was softer than the hardwood floor in the C.J. Sanders Fieldhouse that had previously been used for the pow wow.
“It’s a little bit more softer, a little bit bouncier than we were in the Fieldhouse,” Moses says. “It’s a very beautiful place to have a pow wow for sure.”
Fort William’s Jeordi Pierre, operator of the School of Indigenous Learning, was recognized for donating money for a tiny tots special at the pow wow.
“Last year, we started donating money to our tiny tots — it just encourages our young ones and our families to participate in our culture in this way,” Pierre says, noting that he enjoyed the new location for the pow wow. “I really like it, maybe some access problems, but other than that, the room and the sound is actually very nice.”
Biigtigong Nishnaabeg’s Dustin Gagne, arena director at the pow wow, says it’s important to hold the specials such as the tiny tots special.
“It’s important to hold these kind of specials for our children to keep our cultures and traditions alive through song and dance,” Gagne says, noting that he enjoyed the new location for the pow wow. “The turf makes it easier for the people with the moccasins.”
Fort William’s Nevaeh Morriseau, head woman dancer at the pow wow, says the pow wow was amazing.
“We have a bigger venue this year so we’re able to fit more vendors, more spectators, and it’s been all-around a good vibe and good experience with this new venue,” Morriseau says. “There was way more people this year, it’s nice because we have people coming from all walks of life.”
Pays Plat’s Jeanette Posine, owner of The Bannock Lady, says this was the first time she had an opportunity to sell her bannock burgers and other foods at the pow wow.
“This was my first year and it went terrific,” Posine says, noting that she had a lot of support from the community. “Our most popular item was the bannock burger and they sold out yesterday by 7 o’clock and today they sold out about half an hour ago (4 p.m.).”
Biigtigong Nishnaabeg’s Nathaniel Moses enjoyed the new location for the pow wow.
“I’m glad we’re actually standing in here as a First Nations people to kind of bless it in our community,” Nathaniel says. “At first, I saw on Facebook that people were complaining there’s [not as many seats as the C.J. Sanders basketball facility] but it’s the level of a real pow wow ground, so this is what I love.”
Long Lake #58’s Garrett DePerry, one of the drummers with the Five Eight drum group, says the pow wow was beautiful.
“It’s a lot better than last year, more room, more vendors, and a lot more space,” DePerry says. “The ground is beautiful, nice turf ground, you got the doors that can crack open when it gets too warm, the kids are a lot safer than being under the [bleachers in the C.J. Sanders Fieldhouse], this makes it feel a lot safer for kids.”
Biigtigong Nishnaabeg’s Todd Genno, emcee at the pow wow, says this was his second year as the emcee.
“It’s always an honour to be called upon to emcee,” Genno says. “This year, the pow wow was really good because it was the first time that it’s inside this Hangar and we had lots of room. I think a lot of people felt more comfortable in here. It would be nice to have our spring pow wow outside and connected to the Earth but we do the best that we can, and it’s important that we have these pow wows no matter where they are because as we know this was taken away from our grandparents, so it’s important that we bring this back.”