Free to be at the Nipissing First Nation Pow wow

By Kelly Anne Smith

GARDEN VILLAGE — Nipissing First Nation brought together an epic gathering at the 38th Annual Traditional Dewegigewaad Pow Wow, held September 5-6.

Laurie McLeod-Shabogesic, along with her husband Perry, were the Head Elders of the pow wow. She sees the event as being about both gratitude and cultural revitalization.

“We are finally in a place where we are free to be who we are as Anishinaabe People. For so long, so much about us was illegal. We weren’t free to practice our ceremonies [or] to dress in traditional dress. It was regulated where we live and all different kinds of things, and yet, here we are today, celebrating who we are. We’re able to gather together and give thanks [for] just enjoying the day,” McLeod-Shabogesic says. “As Anishinaabe People, we believe that gratitude is medicine. And it’s an opportunity for us to come together and dance. To give celebration to all that it is [and] to carry it in our hearts. And you look at all the different dancers that are out there in the circle. The Jingle Dress Dancers, how they bring healing. And the roles that each of the styles of dancers have. The type of healing and stories and the things they bring back to our Nation. That they give life to. As things continue to evolve, it’s really important that our children have the opportunity to dance, to sing, [and] to speak in their language because that’s who we are. And it’s so critical to their well-being.”

Nipissing First Nation Councillor Samantha Stevens says the First Nation works every year to enhance the pow wow.

“We take advice from Elders. We take advice from visitors. We take advice from drummers and the dancers on ways that we can improve and ways that we can attract more people, because it’s a traditional pow wow but it’s also an educational pow wow,” Stevens says. “It’s very important for our young people and for the outside world, about what our culture is and how important it is. It’s not scary…We also had a very famous host drum this year, Battle Nation. We had lots of people and some from the Prairies that came because of Battle Nation being our [host] drum. It’s going to be really hard to top next year.”

Co-host drum was Boys from the Island, and the invited drums were Snye Creek and Juniper Singers. White Lightning and Whistling Wind were also drum groups in attendance.

Councillor Stevens explained the welcome participation of the Anishinabek Police Service (APS).

“You’ll notice they are at just about every event. They try to have a presence in the community, so the people see they are working for us and that they’re here to protect our community. And they are also trying to recruit at the same time. When we have our community barbecues, oftentimes, the APS will donate all the food, and they [will] also cook. People will know our police officers and who they are.”

Under the arbour, Emcee Christina Beaucage conducted the circle with Arena Director Tory Fisher. Fisher talked about being happy with everybody coming together.

“I’m so, so grateful to welcome our Woodland Dancers back to Nipissing,” Fisher says. “We had a Woodland Welcoming Grand Entry last night (Saturday). It was to welcome all the dancers and cultural revitalization of the woodland style of dance and singing here in our community.”

Outside the Sacred Fire tipi, Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Linda Debassige was pleased to be supporting the gathering after being invited by Nipissing First Nation Chief Cathy Stevens and Council.

“I was here last year, and it was a beautiful pow wow,” said Grand Council Chief Debassige. “I was really honoured to be invited again. So, I wanted to make sure [that] I come and visit the community and visit the Chief and members of her council. It’s been such an amazing weekend — the weather has been beautiful, the food’s been great, [and] the vendors are incredibly amazing. It’s a really good time here. My Deputy [Grand Council Chief Chris Plain] joined me here today, so he and his wife are participating as well. He travelled from Aamjiwnaang First Nation to be here today.”

Nipissing First Nation’s Dot Beaucage-Kennedy was wearing her sash and crown for winning the Ms. Elite Regional Canada title on August 22 in Toronto. She works with Saskatchewan University researchers and was a Knowledge Keeper with the Northern School of Medicine for 10 years. Beaucage-Kennedy also conducts celebrations of life and officiates weddings. She fought for 20 years for provincial recognition of Indigenous officiants.

She explained there were age and prefix categories for the 45 contestants from across Canada.

“If you look at what elite means, it’s a pretty big role to play. It’s all about empowering women,” Beaucage-Kennedy says. “We talk about different issues. It’s confidential. And we empower each other and support each other. When we leave there, we all just become family.”

During Grand Entry, Eagle Staff Carriers included Chief Stevens, Female Indian Residential School Survivor Evelyn McLeod, Male Indian Residential School Survivor Michael Couchie, Nbisiing Secondary student Gavin Hughes, All Nations Eagle Staff carrier Garnet Moore, Anishinabek Education System Youth Council Ogimaakwe Cailen Hanzlik, and Anishinabek Nation Deputy Grand Council Chief Chris Plain.

Head Veteran Patrick Stevens Jr. carried the Canadian Flag. Constable JP Spence carried the Anishinabek Police Service Flag. Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Linda Debassige, Nipissing First Nation’s Justin Penasse, and Kile George carrying Two-Spirit flag were all part of the Colour Guard.

The Head Female Dancer was Kianna White and Zack Antoine-Jackson was the Head Male Dancer. Head Youth Dancers were Mya Katt and Trent Beaucage.

Jacie Martel is the newly crowned Miss Nipissing and Madeline Paul is Little Miss Wiikwemkoong.