Pow-wow
2023 Pow-wow
REVIVING THE SPIRT
AUGUST 19 & 20, 2022
– GRFN BALLFIELDS –
Host Drum: Ottawa River
Co-Host Drum: BEAR CREEK
GRAND ENTRIES:
Saturday 12pm & 7pm
Sunday 1:00pm
ARENA DIRECTOR: Kevin Syrette
MC: Howard Copenance
HEAD VETERAN: Ray Cadott
HEAD Male Dancer: Raymond Deleary
HEAD Female Dancer: Sarah McGregor
HEAD Female Youth Dancer: Nevaeh Pine
HEAD Male Youth Dancer: Tanner Southwind
DANCE SPECIAL REGISTRATION
$5.00 FOR YOUTH
$10 FOR ADULT
WOMEN’S TRADITIONAL
WOMEN’S FANCY
WOMEN’S JINGLE
1ST – $1000
2ND – $750
3RD – $400
MEN’S TRADITIONAL
MEN’S FANCY
MEN’S GRASS
1ST – $1000
2ND – $750
3RD – $400
GOLDEN AGE 55+
WOMENS & MENS
1ST – $1000
2ND – $750
3RD – $400
JUNIOR GIRLS & BOYS
TEEN GIRLS & BOYS
1ST – $100
2ND – $50
3RD – $25
FOOD, CRAFT & INFORMATION BOOTHS
CONTACT: Joanne Perrault
EMAIL: grfnpowwow@gardenriver.org
2022 Pow-wow
REVIVING THE SPIRT
AUGUST 20 & 21, 2022
– GRFN BALLFIELDS –
Host Drum: BEAR CREEK
Co-Host Drum: ROLLING THUNDER
GRAND ENTRIES:
Saturday 1:00pm & 7:00pm
Sunday 1:00pm
ARENA DIRECTOR: Kevin Syrette
MC’S: Stephanie Pangowish & Darrell Boissoneau
HEAD VETERAN: Ray Cadott
HEAD DANCERS: To be announced daily
JUNIOR HEAD DANCERS: Steven Day-Nolan, Nevaeh Pine
DANCE SPECIAL
ONE-TIME REGISTRATION FEE OF $5.00 FOR YOUTH AND $10 FOR ADULT
WOMEN’S TRADITIONAL
WOMEN’S FANCY
WOMEN’S JINGLE
1ST – $1000
2ND – $750
3RD – $400
MEN’S TRADITIONAL
MEN’S FANCY
MEN’S GRASS
1ST – $1000
2ND – $750
3RD – $400
GOLDEN AGE 55+
WOMENS & MENS
1ST – $1000
2ND – $750
3RD – $400
JUNIOR GIRLS & BOYS
TEEN GIRLS & BOYS
1ST – $100
2ND – $50
3RD – $25
FOOD, CRAFT & INFORMATION BOOTHS
CONTACT: Tyler Pine
EMAIL: grfnpowwow@gardenriver.org
2021 Pow-wow
Introduction
Ketegaunseebee – Garden River First Nation has an annual powwow every year. This year the powwow was held on Saturday, August 21st and Sunday, August, 22nd 2021. “Honoring Residential School Survivors” was the theme. The committee chose the theme to acknowledge all Residential School and Indian Day Schools, of the past. It was important to recognize impacts to the findings of all the unmarked graves of the children found at the schools. The 2 day powwow took place at the Garden River Ball Fields. The 2021 Annual Ketegaunseebee (Garden River) Powwow is growing each year with participants, dancers, drummers, and spectators.
Background
To kickstart the planning and organizing of the ceremony, the powwow committee held their first meeting on June 23rd, 2021. The powwow committee provided a briefing, budget, and Covid-19 recommendations to Chief and Council on July 13th, 2021 and was granted full support by consensus of Chief and Council. The powwow committee met every Wednesday for 9 weeks to prepare and plan the 2021 Powwow. There was plenty of items that needed to be covered in such little time while planning for the ceremony. This year the committee created a GRFN Powwow website to assist with our online registrations and to provide information. Once the final poster was complete, it was shared via social media and rapidly spread the word across powwow country. Through social media GRFN has guests from Toronto to Thunder Bay and a lot of First Nation’s from within the surrounding areas. It was a pleasure to see and welcome the guests to GRFN territory.
2019 Pow-wow
2018 Pow-wow
2017 Pow-wow
The powwow committee would like to announce that this year’s traditional Powwow “All our Relations” was a huge success.
Congratulations to this year’s contest winners for the Ogichidaa and Ogichidaa Kwe- Calvin Boissoneau and Melina Jones-Reid. Your positive attitudes and behaviors were well presented over that weekend and we will look forward to your positive input to the community for the following year. Meegwetch to Lori Boissoneau for making the beautiful sash and medallion for our winners. They are gorgeous, and we know that our Ogichidaa and Ogichidaa kwe will display them with pride throughout the year.
We could not have done it without all the help and direction from the Garden River First Nation Fire Department, Public Works Department and students. Meegwetch for your support, help and donations.
Meegwetch to Darrell Boissoneau, Roseanne Wabegijig, Terri-Lynn Tice and Gary Boissoneau, for all the advice and hard work at the Powwow grounds. From dropping into the office when needed to being at the grounds doing remodeling, your work is appreciated and noticed. Your dedication to the love of the Powwow enhanced everything about it. Meegwetch for your encouragement, support, tireless efforts, help and input. This powwow was vision come true with your help.
Meegwetch to our sponsors: Quality Inn Choice Hotels, S & T electrical, Manulife, Delta Hotel & Conference Center Waterfront, GR Public Works, Port of Algoma, Boreal Solutions, Algoma Power Inc. and Romes Independent Grocer. Without your sponsorship, this event would not be as successful as it was.
Meegwetch to Neveau’s catering. The feast was delicious and everyone enjoyed the wonderful food you provided.
Meegwetch to the GRFN for the development of the new drum arbor. It looks fantastic and we were complimented on it all weekend.
Meegwetch to our Veteran, Craig Jackson for traveling a long way to be home for our powwow. It was a pleasure having you home.
Meegwetch to Carol Jones and Peter Jones for being our honored Elders this year. Your wisdom and guidance helped us all.
Meegwetch to Bear Creek and Fearless Thunder for drumming us through the weekend. Your talent and positive energy was felt throughout the entire grounds, and still felt is in our memories.
Meegwetch to our dancers. All of you are very talented dancers with beautiful regalia which complimented you dance styles. After all, we wouldn’t have much of a powwow without your beautiful dancing.
Meegwetch to our M.C, Chris Pheasant. You were able to encourage grace, laughter, fun and a great time during the powwow.
Meegwetch to our Arena Director, Kevin Syrette. Your skills in making sure everything was on point, ensured that the powwow was running smoothly and efficiently and on time.
Meegwetch to Beck-Jo Beaudry for traveling to teach us about hoop dancing and for making hoops with the kids. You have inspired many people here, to want to hoop dance. Your presence is still talked about.
Meegwetch to Jeff Biron for fire keeping. The fire was strong, well maintained and highly respected through your energies.
Meegwetch to the Flag Carriers and Staff Carriers. You did great job of representing each flag and staff as it should have been represented. This part of the grand entry was done perfectly and beautifully. You guys did an amazing job.
Meegwetch to all of the vendors who attended. We had a great variety of craft, food and information. Your presence made a great experience for all who attended.
On behalf of the Powwow committee, I give a thousand meegwetch’s to all of you. It was a wonderful powwow and it could not have been done without the contributions made from all of you. We will be setting up for a new Powwow Committee come October. If you want to come out and help plan next year’s event, keep your eye out for that announcement. We are definitely looking forward to next year!
Summer Student/Pow-wow Committee
Amanda Cress
