Celebrating Indigenous culture at Echoes of a Proud Nation pow-wow

"I encourage anyone who has an interest to pick your dance style and put your outfit together,” said Tom Dearhouse, one of the many participants of the Echoes of a Proud Nation pow-wow that took place in Kahnawake. Swidda Rassy reports.

One of Quebec’s largest pow-wows drew thousands to Montreal’s Shouth Shore Saturday.

The Echoes of a Proud Nation pow-wow took place in the Mohawk community of Kahnawake.

“Pow-wow is a celebration,” said Tom Dearhouse, a pow-wow dancer. “It consists of drum groups and singers who travel the so called pow-wow trail. So, if you don’t have them, you don’t have a pow-wow. And if you don’t have dancers, you don’t have a pow-wow. And the audience just makes it better.”

Participants took part in Indigenous dancing and singing. There were also Indigenous arts and crafts vendors as well as traditional food options like wild game and walleye nuggets.

“We want more people to start coming around and more of our relatives to start dancing,” said pow-wow dancer Delbert Sampson. “Get some exercise, practise the culture.”

The Echoes of a Proud Nation pow-wow in Kahnawake July 8, 2023. (Swidda Rassy/CityNews)

The event is a celebration of Indigenous culture and community.

The two-day event, which ends Sunday, is in its 31st year.

“My whole family we all dance and we always got taught to pass it down to the generations so that’s why I have my three babies here and I’m just encouraging them to enjoy another part of our culture,” said one pow-wow partcipant.

“I can’t wait for the dancing and I can’t wait for the food,” added another. “Enjoy your day people come on down.”

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