By Ewa Chwojko-Srawley
The sound of the drum carried across Sutton on Sept. 26 and 27, drawing curious ears towards the field behind Sutton District High School, where ‘Spirit of the Drum,’ the Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nation Pow Wow, was underway.
It brought together drumming, singing, dancing, crafts and, most importantly, people from near and far.
It was a spiritual event for the First Nation community, but it was also an invitation to those who heard the drums and wondered what a Pow Wow was all about.
“Just come and ask us your questions,” said Nick Watts of the Bear Clan. “We are happy to talk about our culture.”
For Watts, a question can be the beginning of a much bigger journey. He has been following the Pow Wow trail for a decade, learning from Elders he meets along the way.
“Pow Wow means a world to me. It means my family, and my ancestors behind me. It is dancing with my friends to show them that they are not alone, and we are here to stand together, to learn from each other.”
“Sharing that knowledge is part of keeping the culture alive,” he says. “Pass it on, or it will disappear.”
Dancer Waabi-miigwan Ikwe (White Feather Woman) shares that sense of connection and the importance of passing on knowledge. “I have been dancing in a jingle dress that I made myself,” she said. “For me, it is deeply personal. It’s a healing dance, and when I dance, it also heals other people,” she said.
The soft, rain-like tinkling of the cones on the dress is considered spiritual medicine, helping restore balance to body, mind and spirit.
Waabi-miigwan Ikwe usually attends competition Pow Wows, so she appreciates the more relaxed atmosphere of the traditional Georgina Pow Wow, where the focus is on connection and honouring ancestors.
“It’s lovely to come here,” she said. “You meet a lot of people, and they become your family.”
For Shannon Crate, the weekend was truly a family affair. Her sister, Lauri Hoeg, coordinated the Pow Wow. Shannon was there with her mother, Susan Hoeg, a respected Elder from Georgina Island, as well as her daughter, Meadow, and granddaughter, Valley. Four generations of women, from seven weeks old to 84, came together to celebrate culture and tradition.
“Gatherings like this are especially important for the older generation,” says Shannon. “Growing up, my mother was not allowed to practice her culture, as Pow Wows were suppressed for decades under the Indian Act. The wellness of our community depends on knowing who we are and where we belong, so that our history is not erased.”
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