Thousands of people gathered at one of Quebec’s largest pow-wows on Montreal’s South Shore Saturday.
The 34th annual Echoes of a Proud Nation pow-wow is being held this weekend in the Mohawk community of Kahnawà:ke.
The event is a celebration of Indigenous culture and community marked by dancing and singing. Traditionally, the events facilitated alliances, trade, and naming ceremonies among tribes, according the organizer’s website.
“Seeing people smile, seeing all the regalia from the different nations and seeing people proud of their dancing, everybody together, there’s no separation of nation when everybody’s up there for the all nations dancing,” said Kahienes Sky, participant. “It’s just a time to see people you haven’t seen maybe for a year, it’s just a beautiful time of year.”
The two-day event attracts tourists from all over and provides opportunities for Indigenous and non-Indigenous people to learn about the community’s cultural traditions.
About 100 vendors set up at the pow-wow this year. Organizer Kimberly Cross says most are from Kahnawà:ke, showcasing local food, crafts and artwork.
“People come for a good time to see family, to get together, to go shopping so like the crafts, the artists who are here selling, they’re very important to our pow-wow as well,” said Kimberly Cross, committee member for the Kahnawà:ke Pow-Wow.
The event began with a sunrise ceremony which was followed by the Grand Entry Parade of Dancers.
“It was my mom’s and her sister made it and now it fits me,” said Ieien Kwaniiontha, smoke dancer. “I like the way it looks. I really like these because it has like a bear print on them and like flowers and stuff.”
“My regalia, it mostly represents me. I’m a new dancer, I’ve only been dancing for maybe three years, the three feathers is for where I’m from and it’s usually a staple as far as I know in the Mohawk community, “said Kahentaraken Snow-Patton, dancer.
There were also dance and smoke dance competitions for different age categories and gender, with over $45,000 in prizes for the winners.
“A lot of people dance for medicine, a lot of people just do it for fun, some come for the competition because it is a prize competition that we host,” said Cross.
The event continues Sunday from 9 a.m. through the afternoon.
Add CityNews Montreal as a trusted source on Google to see more local stories from us.
