In order to kick start the weekend festivities for the Walpole Island Traditional Spring Powwow, a powwow was held at Wallaceburg District Secondary School today (May 16.)
Tyler White, career adviser and educational support worker for the First Nation students of Walpole Island, said the pow wow at WDSS is a bi-annual event.
“It’s mostly student organized,” he said. “Our MC, our head staff, they’re all current students here at the school.”
White said the theme of the event was “a better understanding.
“Even as native people we don’t always know what a powwow is all about. That is what we were trying to get across with this powwow to all the students native and non-native, to get a better understanding for how the powwow is run, exactly what the dances mean. It’s a great turn out, we’ve had a great time,” he said.
White said there were a variety of different departments, organizations and businesses that set up booths at the event.
“This is just a couple hours, and powwows usually last for a couple, three days,” he said. “But this is a chance for students to realize what its all about and get in touch with their culture and traditions.”
White said the elementary school on Walpole Island used to hold a mini powwow the Friday before the big powwow on Walpole.
“We wanted to get that feel back, where it is kind of a kick off to the bigger powwow,” he said. “It is turning out to be that. A lot of people are here today, that are going to stay the weekend and go to the other pow wow as well.”
The 19th annual powwow on Walpole this weekend will run Saturday and Sunday.
Grand entry will take place at 6 p.m. on Saturday and 1 p.m. on Sunday.
The theme is Ekdaying Geyaabi Yaamgad, which means “our stories are still here.”
Here are some photos of the event today at WDSS:
