Crowd loves lip-sync comp

Some might think that the Super Bowl half-time show is taking place this Sunday, when the Kansas City Chiefs face the Philadelphia Eagles in New Orleans. But the real half-time show to be at was last weekend at the Knights of Columbus, where Kahnawake Shakotiia’takehnhas Community Services (KSCS) hosted its very own version of the event.

“We had really, really energetic performances,” said Dawson Aronhiakons Horne, a prevention worker at KSCS who coordinated the show alongside fellow prevention worker Adrienne Zachary.

“We’re honestly so proud of it, we both worked really hard on it, and it’s been our passion project for the last two months, so we’re really happy with how it went.”

Well over 100 people showed up for the lip-sync-themed event, which was held as part of the Kahnawake Youth Center (KYC)’s Winter Carnival.

Following a theme of the Superbowl half-time show, each performer participated in one of three categories: lip-sync solo, lip-sync group performance, and live performance. First-place winners in each category took home $500 cash, and second and third place took home $100.

Tahatie Diabo opened the evening in the lip-sync solo category with his performance of Latin icon Selena’s live cover of Black Box’s “Everybody Everybody” - he took home first place in his category.

Diabo said that he watched Selena’s live performance on repeat leading up to the event.

“I copied every ‘woo,’ every ‘ah,’ and I put my own spin on it, my own flavour, I made it my own and I made it believable,” he said.

“For me, just being able to go out there and jump around on stage and be confident in that moment was a win enough for me, so for me to actually win was a total bonus because it isn’t something that I ever expect.”

Diabo credits a lucky charm with helping him secure the victory - a microphone given to him a few years ago by his niece, Lyla Diabo.

“When I saw her afterwards, she was like, ‘Uncle, you used my microphone!’ she knew it right away,” he said. “Those are the moments that make it all worth it.”

Other lucky winners included Millie Jacobs who took second place in the solo category, as well as Valley White, Evey and Rory Hemlock, and Ivy and Willow Jackson, who took home first and second place in the group performance. In the live performance category, Tsokwiretsi Cross and Atonhwensine Paul took first place, Scout Marquis took second, and Rory Hemlock took third.

Zachary said that after months of planning, it was especially rewarding to see community members support KSCS’s efforts.

“I think it’s super awesome to see, because a lot of the performers were children and they can get really shy out there, but the audience was so encouraging, and people were being so supportive,” she said.

“There was a really big community connection going on.”

Door prizes were also given out throughout the evening, including karaoke machines, AirPods, and a Best Western gift card.

Though admission was free, the team collected more than $500 worth of donations, which they chose to give to the Iakwahwatsiratátie Language Nest.

Catering was also provided by the Mohawk Wrestling Club, which sold pizza and other snacks to raise funds for more youth to take part in wrestling. They ended up raising nearly $1,000 for the team.

“It was amazing to see little kids running around and interacting with their grandparents and their parents. I think we as a community need to get back to more community-type events like this for the whole family,” said wrestling coach Peter Montour.

He said that wrestlers are preparing for Nationals in Alberta later this year.

“Plane flights get expensive fast, and the closer we get, the more expensive it all gets,” he said. “We’re trying to make some money now, that’s why we’re fundraising hard.”

Tahatie said the night was real demonstration of what makes Kahnawake what it is.

“Look around, everybody, this is our community. We came out for each other, to see different kinds of performances, and to really cheer on our community,” he said.

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