Powwow back for 34th edition

After more than three decades of dancing, drumming, and fun in the summer sun, the enthusiasm for the Echoes of a Proud Nation Pow-wow is not slowing down.

“Bringing it back every year brings us so much joy, and we see how much positivity and joy it brings the community, how it brings our people together. It just makes it all worth it,” said powwow committee spokesperson Kimberly Cross.

“Once a year, we put so much energy and love into planning this event, and we know that we get that back because people are coming and they’re enjoying it.”

Along with the classic powwow staples - the grand entries, the intertribal dance competitions, the drumming and singing performances, the craft vendors, and the abundance of traditional and modern food options - this year’s powwow, happening this weekend at Tekakwitha Island, will feature some special guest Aztec dancers and a men vs. women Woodland & Smoke Dance Special competition that will be held during Saturday’s supper break.

Cross recommended that powwow visitors have cash in hand already when coming into the event, to make entry fast and have payment options in case of internet outages.

“Once you know what your party is going to cost, bring that amount and it’ll be so much quicker for you to get through. But, we do accept other payment methods as well,” said Cross.

Daily admission is $10 for adults, $5 for seniors 60 or older, and free for children under five.

Tickets are also available online on the powwow’s website and in stores in the community: Ironhorse Wear House, the Kahnawake Tourism offices, Rapids Distribution, and at Wolf’s Den. Tickets purchased in those stores have a $1 discount.

She also recommended that visitors be ready for the elements, particularly the heat - at time of writing, temperatures for both days are forecast as being in the mid to high 20s with humidity percentage in the mid 50s.

“Wear a hat, wear sunscreen, drink a lot of water, stay in the shade,” said Cross.

“If you’re there with people, make sure they’re also taking care of themselves, so that we don’t get into those situations where there’s heat exhaustion and dehydration.”

A water truck will be available for those looking to refill bottles, and many vendors will be on-site selling beverages, she added. A shaded seating area for elders will also be available.

Last year’s new gate entry system, where the grounds on the Island were fenced in and visitors parked and paid for their tickets on the island, was a big enough success for it to return this year, Cross said.

“It was really well received by all the people coming in last year. We had great feedback, so that’s one of the reasons why we decided to do it once again,” said Cross.

“There were not three-hour lineups all the way to the Mercier Bridge or Highway 20 like we’ve seen in the past, so that was very positive. There were no long lineups at our walk-in gates, people waited maybe a max of five minutes, so it really changed a lot for us and for the better.”

The weekend schedule is available on the Kahnawake Pow wow Facebook page.

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