The Canim Lake Fifth Annual Traditional Powwow promises to provide a weekend of culture, colour, music and dance at Canim Lake Reserve, July 12-14.
The centre of activity will be the outdoor arbour where First Nations dancers from all over the region will perform traditional dances, while dressed in traditional regalia. Drumming by local and visiting drum groups will keep the beat.
Friday night is a warm-up for dancers and drummers and action begins after the Grand Entry at 7 p.m., lasting until approximately midnight.
Saturday’s activities start at 7 a.m. with a complimentary breakfast at the Canim Lake Reserve gymnasium
At noon, there’s the Princess Pageant at the arbour where princess contestants will dance, present their special talent and give a speech.
There’s another Grand Entry at 1 p.m., followed by more dancing. At 3 p.m., Canim Lake Outgoing princess Mercedez Boyce will dance her farewell Special, and also during the afternoon, four-year-old Loghan Archie will be welcomed into the dance circle in a special ceremony.
From 5 to 7 p.m. everyone breaks for supper at the gym where a complimentary meal of traditional foods will be provided.
Stacey Archie, who co-ordinates the powwow with Virginia Archie says it’s powwow tradition to feed all of their guests.
Following supper, it’s back to the arbour for another Grand Entry and an evening of dance and drumming, which is expected to last until 11 p.m.
Breakfast will be served on Sunday morning from 7 to 9 a.m. at the gym, leading into the final Grand Entry at noon. After that, there is another afternoon of dance and crowning of the new princess.
The end of the main event will be marked by the Thank You song where everyone shakes hands, and with the final Retiring of the Flags. Following that, from 5 to 7 p.m. is another traditional feast.
The general public is welcome to attend the event, which is free of charge except for traditional foods and snacks at the arbour which will be available for purchase daily from vendors.
