Powwow puts Indigenous culture in the spotlight

‘We’re glad to be a host and honoured that this many people chose to make this a part of their day,’ says event organizer

The Meridian Centre arena was filled with a sea of colour. Regalia on the floor and a sea of orange in the seats, as several thousand people turned out for the eighth annual Traditional Powwow put on by Niagara Regional Native Centre.

Just a few rows up in the seats, Elizabeth Pansino-Weber held three-week-old Ocktavia-Aster.

“For me, it’s phenomenal,” said Pansino-Weber. “Unfortunately, I was adopted out of my tribe at three weeks old, so to bring her and my oldest to a powwow, it’s extremely important to get the culture to share in the memories that I didn’t get to have as a child.”

She said she didn’t discover her Indigenous background or that she was adopted until she was 16.

“I didn’t meet my birth mom until I was 19. So it took a long time to find her and learn that I was Indigenous.”

While she and her family live in Niagara Falls, she was initially from the Manitoulin Island area and part of the Wiikwemkoong First Nation.

She brought her daughters to learn what’s been lost in their culture.

“What has been swept under the rug and may have been forgotten, it’s important to come together as a community and see everything and learn from the elders.

“I’m relearning my songs, my culture, how to wear the regalia, how to braid my hair, how to do the beadwork,” Pansino-Weber said. “I cherish that I will be able to teach both my daughters.”

It’s a sentiment that Phyllis Webstad echoed.

“I think of my grandchildren, who have lost their language, all but a handful of words, and their culture. So, my message is to do whatever you can to learn even a couple of words of your language or if you know your language, keep talking and do whatever you can culturewise.”

Webstad was recognized and honoured for her creation of Orange Shirt Day across the country.

“Orange Shirt Day was created to have a conversation about residential schools and all aspects of it and honour survivors and their families and to remember those who never made it home,” she said.

“All of that is happening today.”

While she didn’t have an orange shirt Saturday, saying it gets too hard sometimes, Webstad was pleased to see the many orange shirts in the seats.

Webstad was forced to give up her favourite orange shirt when she was put into a residential school.

“It’s surreal, and it was divinely guided that it was meant to happen this way, so I’m honoured to be here and be recognized for the work that I’m doing.”

Powwow co-organizer Karl Dockstader said the response to the event was heartening.

“To go from three hundred to maybe 3,000 people, that’s special for us,” he said.

“I think people came because they realized that Phyllis led a movement. But people are also here to try to improve our community, and that’s exactly what powwows are all about.

“We’re glad to be a host and honoured that this many people chose to make this a part of their day.”