In the communities, Pow Wow are experiencing a shift to modernity thanks to the Indigenous succession.
Eruoma Awashish is impressed that an initiative that stemmed from disappointment is still going strong some 15 years later. At the time, the twentysomething-year-old was saddened to hear that the Mashteuiatsh Pow Wow had been cancelled due to major construction work. Not on her watch! The young Atikmekw woman, along with two of her friends of the same age, decided to take matters into their own hands, planning their own celebration.
Maybe it was the intimate format, the momentary magic of it all, or the spontaneous spirit of communion... whatever the reason, the event was a resounding success. ‘We put together a small Pow Wow, and everyone came,” she recalls. It was a turning point for the Mashteuiatsh Pow Wow. Still living in proximity to the community, Eruoma Awashish has noticed that the event is continually drawing a younger audience. Over time, these celebrations have also grown to foster relationships with non-Indigenous people, creating a moving spirit of fraternity.
Modernized traditions!
The Wemotaci Pow Wow is another event experiencing a rebirth thanks to younger generations’ participation. This wind of modernity sometimes conflicted with the Elders’ more traditional version. “Young people are reconnecting with their culture in their own way,” says Marcel Boivin, former Wemotaci band council Chief. “Many of them even started playing the drums. The Elders were somewhat resistant [to certain changes] at first, but they eventually came together!
Now, children and adults alike are taking part in this fascinating exchange. And non Indigenous are always invited to join in the dance! Hand-in-hand, everyone is mesmerized by the captivating performances in a spirit of universal communion.
For many of us, the Pow Wow is a special time for consolidating the respect it fosters. This is the case for Eruoma Awashish, who sees it as a perfect opportunity to pass down ancestral customs to her daughter. “When I put on my regalia, I wear my culture with pride and I share a collective memory that I pass down to the next generation” she says.
Find the complete Pow Wow Trail schedule here 👉Pow wow Trail
