WIIKWEMKOONG—The Wiikwemkoong Cultural Festival, aka the Wiky Powwow, has been drawing the best of dancers and drum groups from across Turtle Island for over a half-century (64 years in fact), and once again this year, the venerable event will be paired with WAMF, the Wiikwemkoong Arts and Music Festival.
This year, the music festival will be a more laid back affair, with a more country-folk vibe than in the past, albeit the featured artist, Crystal Shawanda is an award-winning blues and country artist. This year, the headliner will be William Prince, Mr. Prince is a Canadian folk and country singer-songwriter who hails from Winnipeg. A direct descendant of Chief Peguis, whose efforts are credited with keeping the Selkirk settlers alive (circa 1817). Prince’s father Edward was also a musician and preacher, who recorded a number of albums, and Prince travelled with his father playing gigs in northern Manitoba.
Mr. Prince released his solo debut album, ‘Earthly Days,’ on December 11, 2015 and since then, his song ‘Breathless’ reached No. 22 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary charts in 2018. His second album, ‘Reliever,’ was released on February 7, 2020 and also in 2020, he released his third studio album, an album of country gospel songs called ‘’Gospel First Nation.’ The album included a mixture of new original songs, songs written by his father (a preacher with whom the younger Mr. Prince played gigs across the territory, as well as traditional gospel songs. He has also performed alongside Vince Fontaine and Don Amero in the band Indian City.
Featured artist Crystal Shawanda is no stranger to WAMF or Wiikwemkoong, having grown up in Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory. Her amazing blues performances bring a Janis Joplin-level energy to the stage. Her daughter will also be performing in her own first solo onstage gig.
Among the highlights at this year’s WAMF, according to organizer Jason Manitowabi, will be emerging headlining performances; a Smoke Dance versus Fancy Dance showdown; an ‘Honouring Our Water Protectors & Land Guardians’ Fashion Show; Odawa Mnis Youth Chef Showdown, an arts and crafts marketplace as well as a host of culinary vendors to sample.
WAMF takes place all day Friday, August 1, at Nimkii Binesiinh Kaaning (Thunderbird Park) in Wiikwemkoong.
This year the Cultural Festival will take place from Saturday, August 2 to Monday, August 4, but in a switch up from previous years, the contest awards (this is a competition powwow) will take place on Sunday—allowing for more dancers and drums to come from away.
The draws are substantial with a first prize in the drum competition sitting at $12,000. Even fifth prize is no slouch with a $2,000 prize. Host drum is Charging Horse, a contemporary drum group with singers from numerous parts of Canada. In the dance categories, top prizes in the adult sections run from $1,200 to $600 for fourth place, while the youth categories start out with $500 for teens, to $300 for boys and girls and a daily honorarium for Tiny Tots.
“This year we have added the Woodland and Smoke Dance to the regular categories,” said Mr. Manitowabi. “We hope to invite and open up the dance arena to more dancers.” In the past those categories had been listed as “specials” he noted.
On Saturday night, there will be a Fancy Dance Showdown, with fancy shawl dancers facing off against fancy bustle dancers and a Woodland versus Smoke Dance challenge. “This year we are replacing the Iron Man and Iron Woman with those events,” said Mr. Manitowabi. The designs by Wiikwemkong’s own fashion designer Tashina and collaborator Darcy Moses (of Vogue Magazine fame) will be sure to dazzle.
Master of ceremonies are Duke Peltier, Allan Manitowabi and Jason Whitehorse. Mr. Whitehorse hails from Mount Pleasant Michigan.
Head veteran is Wayne Pitawanakwat, arena director David Trudeau, head drum judge Animikeence Plain, head male dance judge is Dr. John Hupfield, head female judge is Deanne Hupfield, Smoke Dance singer is Sheldon Sundown and the head elders are Henry James Shawanda and Gloria Mandamin.
This weekend promises to be amazing, not-to-be-missed weekend in Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory.
