It was an amazing weekend of healing and celebration in Wauzhushk Onigum, as the community hosted the fifth annual Healing Your Spirit Powwow in partnership with Ogimaawabiitong (Kenora Chiefs Advisory).
The three-day gathering, held July 26, 27 and 28, is a way for us all to come together and honour survivors of residential schools and the thousands of children who never made it home, as well as to celebrate our military veterans and our youth.
Dancers and drummers from Treaty #3, Manitoba, and all throughout Turtle Island gathered in Wauzhushk Onigum’s Powwow Arbour on Powwow Island as Staff Carriers led the weekend’s Grand Entry and celebrations, which kicked off with Treaty #3’s traditional healing songs.
“It’s been great. We’ve had a lot of guests and visitors to the community. And we’re doing exactly what it says – we’re healing all of our spirits,” says Wauzhushk Onigum Chief and KCA Board Secretary-Treasurer, Chris Skead.
“I feel very honoured and humbled to host this great gathering once again this year,” he adds. “I love seeing the interaction of our people, both Anishinaabe and non-Anishinaabe. It’s so welcoming and comforting for everyone to come together, join the circle, heal, hear the singing, see the dancing, and take in all that the powwow has to offer,” adds Chief Skead.
Dancing and drumming filled the community throughout the weekend with prizes for a number of adult and youth categories, as dancers from across Turtle Island gathered together and shared traditional dances from a variety of categories with each other and the crowd.
“It’s really fun,” says KCA Youth Council member, Lexx Paul of Asubpeeschoseewagong First Nation.
“I was one of the Eagle Staff carriers this weekend. For me, hearing Young Spirits (drumming group) is awesome. I hope to see them, and everyone, on the Powwow trail this summer. It’s all about celebrating and seeing youth out there, giving their parents a hard time, and having fun,” Paul adds.
An annual tradition of the gathering, a special celebration was held on Saturday afternoon in honour of residential school and 60’s scoop survivors, as well as our Indigenous veterans. This special moment of honour was done in partnership with Bimose Tribal Council and Grand Council Treaty 3.
Spectators and dancers came together as various community members, clothed in smudged blankets, shared their journeys of self-resilience and healing with the crowd. Drummers later rendered an honour song to recognize survivors’ spirits.
“It’s important that we continue to bring that forward,” stressed KCA Executive Director, Jennifer Dreaver. Communities all over are still searching for their loved ones through unmarked graves.” stressed KCA Executive Director, Jennifer Dreaver. “We want to make sure that we’re keeping what Nations are going through at the forefront. And while this work continues, many of us, including myself as a daughter of a Residential School Survivor love to help create space for people to express who they are through the beauty and power of powwow life, and enjoyment of life, which also honours IRS.”
KCA sends a huge Miigwetch to the community of Wauzhushk Onigum and Chief Skead for hosting the weekend’s gathering. Miigwetch also goes out to our drummers and dancers for sharing their songs and traditional dancing.
“It was a beautiful weekend,” added Dreaver. “Really great to see our drums back together again. Many thanks to Wauzhushk Onigum, the Ogichidaa drum for hosting us and guiding us on another great powwow this year.”
We would also like to send a big Miigwetch to staff and volunteers for helping set up and clean up, to Gary Smith of Naicatchewenin First Nation and Ricky White of Naotkamegwanning First Nation for emceeing, and our cooks, security, Staff Carriers, and vendors for their support.
A special shoutout to the Whitefish Jr’s, Young Spirit, and Whitefish Bay drummers and singers, as well as Jyles Copenace and Jolene Fontaine for serving as this weekend’s Arena Directors.
Ogimaawabiitong would also like to thank this year’s powwow sponsors: FSET, Dingwall Ford, MNP, Hyatt House, Bell Canada, Wauzhushk Onigum, Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, Wilson’s Business Solutions, Weyerhaeuser, Teekca’s Boutique, Lake of the Woods Sports Headquarters, Season’s, Northern Sounds & Systems, Bestway, Hardware Co., King’s Furniture, Q Power, Jolen Opyc, and Inn of the Forks.
This weekend’s celebration was the fifth annual Healing Your Spirits gathering on Powwow Island, just a few kilometres away from the site of the former St. Mary’s Indian Residential School.