Every summer across the country, Indigenous communities hold powwows. In these rhythmic events, traditional dancing, drumming, singing and food take center stage. Our archives offer you an incursion through these sacred ceremonies.
First Nations have always come together to share and celebrate.
From 1886 to 1951, the Canadian government banned the practice of all traditional Aboriginal ceremonies, including pow-wows, for the purpose of assimilation.
However, starting in the 1960s, pow-wows made a strong comeback in the country’s various Aboriginal communities.
A powwow is first and foremost a celebration that brings together different Aboriginal nations. Visitors are also welcome. There are two types of powwows, those that involve dance competitions, which are more prevalent in the West and the United States, and those that focus more on spirituality and traditional ceremonies, than the are found more often in the east.
Powwows are played in arenas or, most often, outdoors.
On the Abenaki reserve of Odanak east of Sorel, the pow-wow tradition has been revived since 1960.
To Reflection of a country on August 28, 1987, France Nadeau presents her report The party in Odanak.
As mentioned by the journalist attending the pow-wow, the cohabitation of the Abenakis with the whites has not tarnished the attachment to their culture.
Nicole O’bowsawin, director of the Abenaki Museum, explains that the return of pow-wows took place in 1960 to celebrate the tercentenary of the reserve. A tradition that has continued ever since.
At this meeting, we have indigenous nations from afar, from the United States and even from Bolivia.
Those present are invited to taste the smoked sturgeon caught in the Saint-François River, an Abenaki specialty.
” At the same time, it gives a model to our young people. They want to participate with us in these celebrations. They see that we have a lot of fun. It gives them taste and pride in their identity. “
Even today, smoked fish, bannock and sagamité can be tasted at the Odanak pow-wow. People come to see the dancers and to hear the drummers and the songs.
On July 9, 2000, Radio-Canada broadcast live the 10th Annual Kanesatake Pow Wowa program hosted by Dominique Poirier.
Unlike the Mohawk Pow-Wow of the Kahnawake Reserve, the Kanesatake Pow-Wow does not involve dancing competitions and is held solely in celebration of Aboriginal culture and spirituality.
Dominique Poirier talks with ethnomusicologist Nicole Beaudry about the origins of the event. First, the return of pow-wows to Mohawk reserves coincides with the reconciliation of 1990 after the events of the Oka crisis.
Pow-wow is a word of Algonquian origin which means: a gathering of people from different nations.
Dominique Poirier also conducts an interview with a Cree from the western plains Kevin Daniel. He describes his traditional clothes which are called the regalia. It is made up of traditional elements from different nations given to it over time.
He made his own shield which represents the male and female elements. The dancers’ regalia, which are not costumes, are adorned with bells, glass beads, feathers, claws and bones. Which gives a spectacular result.
The ethnomusicologist explains that there are very marked stylistic differences from one nation to another. However, there are commonalities to the Aboriginal way of singing. In the pow-wows, the types of songs, the manners of beating the drum, moving and dressing of the dancers are very much inspired by the nations of the plains.
On show That’s life September 15, 2008, journalist Karoline Benoit introduces us to dancer Teddy Bison who moves from one pow-wow to another to compete.
In Saskatchewan dozens, if not hundreds of competitors must demonstrate their skills to the sound of the drum.
In 2008, Teddy Bison is 19 years old and has been dancing since he was a child and has already won several awards. He dances in the most flamboyant style of all nicknamed the fancy (fancy). This is the tradition of his family of Sioux descent.
His regalia is decorated with porcupine quills. On his back and on his arms, fans recall the shields of warriors.
Teddy Bison grew up on the Ocean Man Reserve in Saskatchewan. His parents compete in pow-wows and bring him with them from one region to another both in Canada and in the United States.
” For him, dancing is a way of life, an extraordinary way to come out of your shell and discover the world. “
During the competition, dancers are judged on their ability to keep the rhythm, their footwork and their stamina.
Alcohol and drugs are prohibited on powwow grounds. A lifestyle that appeals to the young dancer.
Elders, who are very important in Aboriginal communities, also occupy a prominent place in pow-wow ceremonies. “They are the ones who say the opening prayer during the Grand Entrance and the closing prayer during the removal of the flags. “
Radio Canada
Source: Radio-Canada
