Tobique First Nation 11th Annual PowWow
Oluwikoneyak Weckuwapasihtit is 7th Generation, from the womb to beyond
Hundreds of people gathered to socialize and celebrate their family and community at this traditional cultural gathering.
The location for the PowWow is just past the Maliseet Gas Bar at TFN and is a truly lovely and peaceful spot. The huge trees shelter the ground, with a large circular clearing in the middle of the grove.
Benches have been erected around the clearing to seat visitors and the vendors tucked their tents and tables in amongst the trees.
The vendors offered a wonderful variety of arts, crafts and jewelry to visitors, along with food and soft drinks.
On Saturday a thunderstorm blew through in the early afternoon which caused the dancers and drummers to move down to the gym at the Mah-Sos School for the rest of the day.
As they were setting up down at the school, underneath the shelter of a big tent under the trees Imelda Perley conducted a traditional ceremony to welcome new babies into the community.
The Welcoming Ceremony is a formal event which gives parents the opportunity to introduce their children aged three and under to their community and the world.
To conduct the ceremony, Imelda formally welcomed the new babies to both the community and Earth. She brushed their feet with sprigs of fresh cedar.
She explained that the parents bring the children to earth, but the Ancestors send the babies and it is our responsibility to welcome the new babies to both the community and the world.
“Our first home is the womb” she said, “and then the earth becomes our home.”
As she brushed the babies feet with the cedar, she was inviting them to walk upon the earth. She explained that it is the parents’ responsibility to walk the right path themselves to show their children the way.
On Sunday the weather cooperated and the dancing was back out under the trees in the dappled sunlight.
Tears 4 Justice is a group dedicated to bringing awareness to missing girls and women in Canada. Eight members of this organization are walking across Canada to bring attention to this issue.
The group made a stop especially to attend the PowWow and meet the Tobique community.
They represent all women victims, but so many of the missing are Native Canadian girls and women who have vanished on the so-called Highway of Tears in BC.
Becky Big Canoe is a member of this group. The walk began in Sydney, NS on the day of the Summer Solstice, and they plan to spend the whole summer season, from Solstice to the Fall Equinox on September 21st walking the 7,581 km from Sydney to Prince Rupert, BC.
Tears 4 Justice was begun by activist and Champion of Change Gladys Radek, who lost a niece on the Highway of Tears.
Violence against all women is endemic in the world and Canada, with Native Canadian women being 3 to 4 times more at risk of being the victim of violence.
Many of these women and girls vanish completely, and are never seen again. Some are abducted and become the victims of the sex trade industry which flourishes even in Canada.
Tears 4 Justice has a Facebook page where you can keep up with their progress across the country and make donations to the cause.
Stephanie Kelley
