Pikwakanagan – The Algonquin First Nation of Pikwakanagan rolled out the Welcome mat this past weekend for the 33rd annual pow wow and visitors and participants came from near and far in huge numbers to make it a very memorable event.

Pow wow committee chair Jamie Sarazin said Monday she had never ever seen a crowd as large as the one Saturday which caused traffic delays and parking challenges for those both coming and going.

The fact the committee decided to offer free admission this year might have been responsible for the huge attendance, she said, adding the lack of a public event for the past two years might also have had something to do with the crowds.

In addition, Mrs. Sarazin believes there’s a sympathetic side to it as the public is becoming more educated as to the atrocities the Indigenous people went through in the past with the residential schools and the news of so many unmarked graves.

“Everybody is just starting to be educated about the past and they’re trying their best to see what they can do to help out the situation, not knowing the history.

“A lot of people will say they never knew that or learned that in their history, and they’re feeling really badly that all these things took place, and nobody really knew about it,” she added.  

Despite the large numbers, she felt Chris Sarazin recruited a good grew for his CPS Security firm to handle the event.

“They handled parking control and they also handled security,” she said. “They were all prepared.”

The committee had originally announced the pow wow would have a more local flair this year and not attract as many visiting drummers and dancers, but as time passed it became evident the pow wow was going to be quite popular.  

“They were all prepared; we knew it was going to be busy because everybody kept telling us they’d see us at the pow wow,” she explained.

They were six drum groups, including the local Kichesipirini drum as well as five other groups, and one lone singer. Ms. Sarazin credited Amanda Two-Axe Kohoko and Kevin Lamarr with recruiting the drum groups, adding they tried to enlist a younger group to take part.

“We wanted a young drum group to give us beat music to try and get everything going on a really celebratory note,” she explained. “So, we did seek out a drum for that.”      

There were 207 dancers registered and the number of adults and children involved was almost equal this year. She said another 25-plus dancers arrived later due to being caught in traffic, which took the numbers closer to 235, on par with the last pow wow in 2019.

“It tells me everybody wants to go on, regardless of COVID,” she said of the turnout. “We’re learning to live without lockdowns; everybody is tired of that.”

Ms. Sarazin said this past weekend bodes well for future events, noting she was happy to see people shaking hands, giving fist bumps, hugging each other.

“I couldn’t believe people were actually as open as they were, greeting people,” she added. “I guess they just couldn’t contain themselves with the excitement.” 

Special Guest

Ms. Sarazin said the committee was honoured to welcome Grand Chief Roseann Archibald to assist with the opening of the pow wow, adding she learned about a week earlier she had accepted the invitation of Chief Wendy Jocko to attend.

“We really didn’t publicize the fact because Wendy told me she had invited her. We welcomed her like we welcomed everybody else.”

Ms. Sarazin thought it was the first time a Grand Chief had attended the Pikwakangan pow wow.

“I think it made us feel pretty good to know that she thought we were important enough for her to come, because she’s not from our reserve,” he stated.

Ms. Sarazin said while there was no admission, the committee received a lot of donations which will help with expenses.

Saturday was hot and sunny. There was a light shower of rain during the opening on Sunday and then the rain stopped and held off for the remainder of the day.

“It was busy enough. All the vendors were busy with the food and crafts,” she said of Sunday’s attendance. “It was a little more relaxed. It wasn’t the sight you saw the day before.”

There were 12 food vendors and 32 craft vendors which is on par with previous years.

When asked if there will be a 34th traditional pow wow in 2023, she replied, “I’m sure there will be.”

Welcome From Chief

Chief Jocko had the honour of opening the pow wow with Grand Chief Archibald.

“It is a great honour and pleasure to welcome you to Algonquin Territory which has been blessed by the Creator with many gifts,” she said. “The Anishnabe Algonquin people are one heart and one soul and have lived for thousands of years on this Unsurrendered Territory. We thank and honour the land.

“We acknowledge the enduring presence of all First Nation, Inuit and Metis people who call Algonquin Territory their home along with other nations,” she added. “We acknowledge all the residential school children who never made it home. We acknowledge the survivors and all they have endured.” 

She acknowledged the important contributions of all Veterans in service to Canada and how they are remembered, both those who lost their lives, and those whose lives were forever changed.

Chief Jocko also thanked all the various sponsors who contributed to the event.