Grand River powwow is a wow
The 37th annual Grand River Pow Wow does a great job of pulling people into Six Nations territory, but if it’s your first impression of the place make sure you return another time for the rest of the picture.
The powwow, at Chiefswood Tent and Trailer Park, has a loose, eclectic carnival feel, in part kitschy, in part classy, always fun.
It gives a foretaste of the richness of First Nations history, culture and society in the area and, one hopes, an appetite for more. Curiosity about what lies deeper will be rewarded by further visits.
On the weekend, the dancers came decked out in big and colourful eagle bustles (back feathers), elaborate feathered headdresses and war bonnets, bone or hair-pipe breastplates, jingle cones, fancy side drops and animal pelt streamers.
This does not necessarily make for great historical or cultural fidelity — the First Nations of central and eastern Canada didn’t dress in such regalia — but it does have terrific display value.
As powwow chair Charlene Bomberry told me, “Mostly these (the dances and dress) are from the western and Plains nations.”
Sebastian Alexander, 16, of Hamilton, wore bright red and gold regalia, with lots of feathers, an eagle bustle, several side drops, a feather cap, an eagle fan and moccasins with raised beads.
“The dance has to tell a story,” he explains.
Jesse Kewageshig, from Grand Bend, was dancing in a group with Sebastian, representing the Kanesetake of Quebec. He wore a bone breastplate, leggings and bells on his moccasins.
Vicki Montour was visiting from Kahnawake, near Montreal, and competing in the jingle dance.
“You dress and dance in your own interpretation,” she said. “As long as you are on the beat (of the drum) and stop at the last beat, you do what you feel.” The same with the dress. “But it’s hot today. When I was dancing, three times I couldn’t breathe.”
Mike Carnegie, non-native and the coach of the Ancaster Blizzard fast pitch softball team, came because four of his young female players are from Six Nations.
“My first time to the powwow, I’m ashamed to say,” he told me, adding he’ll be back.
“It is fascinating, learning about the culture, the history, the spirituality.”
Aside from the dancing and singing, the powwow featured many crafts tables and vendors. The event drew 10,000 over the weekend last year and Bomberry was hoping attendance would hit 12,000 this weekend. Visitors came from as far away as Oklahoma.