AUNDECK OMNI KANING—4 Directions Complex was the location for a powwow social on Saturday night, February 3. An impressive turnout of young and old were on hand to watch the dances, but many more were there to take part. In true family fashion, there was something for everyone to see, do and enjoy.
“For quite a while now, every winter we do two powwow socials, one in Sudbury and one on the Island,” Kina Gbezhgomi Child and Family Services’ communications and PR specialist Jessica Orr said. “This allows patrons to stay connected with their Anishinabek way of life through connection to customs, teachings, culture, language, dance, music and community.”
The Sudbury powwow social was held at the Caruso Club on Haig Street, with over 300 in attendance. The master of ceremonies was Craig Fox, arena director, Darren McGregor, with head male and female dancers Wes and Tracey Cleland. Host drum was Black Bull Moose Singers and co-host drum was Singers Nos Singers.
At the Aundeck Omni Kaning event, Craig Fox was again the master of ceremonies and Darren McGregor was arena director. Black Bull Moose Singers were the host drum and Chi-Geezis and Bell Rock Singers were co-host drums. Head male and female dancers were Greg and Mariette Sutherland and the head male and female youth dancers were Kane Rivers and Chantal Atkinson. Following the opening ceremonies and welcome, the dancing got underway with the Welcome Song by the Bell Rock Singers, and the head dancers leading the way.
Kina Gbezhgomi Child and Family Services offers numerous programs and services for children, youth and families of the surrounding First Nations communities and strives to maintain the integrity of the Anishinabek culture. These powwows are an opportunity for families to come together, to take part in culturally significant activities, be immersed in the language and the customs and traditions. The best thing about a powwow is that exposure to customs and traditions can be a lot of fun.
There were many little ones, in full regalia, and they danced for nearly four hours straight. They danced with their parents, their grandparents and their friends. There were spot dances, where prizes were won, the potato dance required great dexterity and patience; there were two-step dances, inter-tribal dances, dances for the very small, for the youth and teen dancers and then the spectacular hoop dancers entertained the crowd.
From 7 pm and onwards a substantial meal was served by Pam’s Catering of M’Chigeeng and Susan Manitowabi was set up and selling beautiful handmade creations by her family—leather work, fur trimmed hats, moccasins and jewellery. There was indeed something for everyone at the powwow social.
Throughout the course of the evening, Craig Fox often shared personal stories to foster the importance of the language and the culture. In promoting an upcoming youth and elders cultural gathering (again, taking place in Sudbury and Manitoulin Island), he said, “As a young child I was raised in a single-family home, so my mother would send me to a lot of these programs and through these programs I got to meet a lot of my teachers and elders and they shared a lot of their knowledge with me. That happened 30 – 40 years ago. I’ve carried on the teachings that I’ve learned along the way at some of these youth and elder gatherings. So, it’s in your best interest to go and check them out, they’re going to be lots of fun.”
The organizers wanted to remind everyone of the youth and elders cultural gatherings taking place in Sudbury, at the Holiday Inn February 17 and 18 and on Manitoulin Island at the Manitoulin Hotel and Conference Centre on March 23 and 24.
