SHESHEGWANING—On a beautiful, sunny weekend Sheshegwaning First Nation honoured its elders at its 28th annual powwow, including one elder who passed away earlier this year who had a big hand in the annual event.

“We are holding this years powwow with the theme ‘Honouring Our Elder’,” April Folz, coordinator of the powwow told The Expositor this past Sunday. One of those who was honoured was, “Loretta Roy with an honour song on Saturday. We felt it was important to honour her, and her tremendous contributions to the powwow over the years. The pow wow wouldn’t be where it is now without all her efforts and many other elders in the past.”

Ms. Folz is now the coordinator on the powwow organizing committee. “I took up the reins after Loretta passed away, but I had been working with her a long time, probably 20 years.”

At the grand entry for the powwow on Sunday, elder Joseph Laford provided the invocation and prayer. He told the gathering he had been one of the local community members who had helped construct the pow wow arbor 24 years ago and it has served the community well for this event over the years.

Master of ceremonies Greg ‘The Goose’ Sutherland noted that a special veterans’ song presented on Sunday, “is for the veterans who never came home, veterans on hand for the pow wow this past weekend, those veterans who physically cannot attend and celebrate the event, including those who may be battling mental illness challenges.

Marie McLeod, Sheshegwaning band councillor welcomed everyone in attendance on Sunday. “We would like to welcome everyone to our 28th annual powwow, and for honouring our elders. Thank you to everyone for coming out here today and yesterday to support the community and we hope that everyone has a good time.”

“We hope to see everyone back here again next year,” said Councillor McLeod.

Host drum for the powwow was Chi Gizis, while the head elder dancers were Gmewin Migwans and Craig Fox. Head veteran was Will Morin, while youth head dancers included Daynara Cyr and Komii Morin. 

Along with large crowds in attendance both Saturday and Sunday, this year’s powwow included 23 vendors, the most ever in the events history.

One of the vendors was Indigenous Tourism Ontario (ITO) which had a large display, including a birchbark canoe. 

Ryan Peltier of ITO noted ITO has had its display at many powwows on the North Shore and Manitoulin Island this year. “This display was brought from Science North for several events this year.”

“We do several teachings as well to schools through school boards,” Mr. Peltier added. The ITO display also included teepees, dream catchers, birch bark canoes and more. 

“We also offer several different workshops, such as leading for excellence workshop, coaching for excellence, Indigenous business advisory paths program, awakening Holistic growth-community tourism awareness program, a wellness checklist, a bundle for walking your path-business wellness workshop, partnerships and paths, paths and Paddles, igniting paths workshops which reflect ITO’s four pillars for sustainable tourism business development; human resources and operations, products and experiences, marketing and branding, and culture and sustainability.”

“We are delighted to be here in Sheshegwaning this weekend,” said Mr. Peltier. “And we have been delighted with the response we have received, and the warm welcome for our people and our booth.”

This year the date for the pow wow was changed from June to the second week of September, said Ms. Folz. “We changed the date to September as there is a lot of competition with other pow wows during the summer and other events. This year we have had beautiful weather and have been able to hold everything outside as we have had sunny weather both days.”

“We will be holding the powwow every year from now on during the second week in September,” added Ms. Folz.