Troy White, a member of the Flat Bay Band in Newfoundland, now living in Oshawa, drove to North Bay to attend the 29th annual pow wow hosted by Canadore College.
A traditional dancer, it was White’s first time attending a pow wow at the college.
“It is important to get young people involved to learn their culture and to learn where we came from. In order to know where we’re going, we’ve got to know our past, we’ve got to know our history.”
Gerard Peltier is the recruitment retention officer at the First Peoples’ Centre at Canadore.
He explained that the one-day event is a celebration for the students and the community.
“People come from everywhere to sing, dance, share some food, laughter and catch up with some old friends. That’s what pow wows are really all about. It is a family type of gathering,” said Peltier.
Canadore hosts a welcome pow wow in the fall, together with Nipissing University. The intent being, to give students who are coming into the urban centre for the first time, a feeling of home.
”There is a transition process that a lot of our northern students or some students who have never been to an urban centre go through. A pow wow puts them at ease, it gives that family feeling,” said Peltier.
“We have this one in February which kicks off the pow wow year. I think for a long time this was one of the first stops for a lot of people because we go into hibernation as soon as the snow comes right.? What better way to start celebrating the new year,?” grinned Peltier.
Student ambassador, Shawnesia Ottawa, says the event was organized by the college's First Peoples' Centre and the Canadore Aboriginal Student Association.
“The theme of the pow wow is ‘Honouring Our Future Leaders.’ It is a traditional pow wow, so what we’re doing here is to try and bring more indigenous awareness to the college. Unlike our welcoming pow wow, this pow wow is a celebration. So, it is more like we are celebrating that we’re still here, we’re strong resilient, indigenous,” said Ottawa.
“There are a lot of people trying to reconnect with our roots, not only in schools but from back home on the reserves, for those of us who do live on reserves. A lot of our people are telling us, especially the elders, that we need to hold on to our culture, hold on to our traditions, because if we don’t, who will? Within the indigenous society, we’re always thinking about future generations, future leaders. How are we going to leave this earth for the next seven generations?”
Over three hundred people attended this year’s celebration which included indigenous arts and crafts and a traditional feast.
