The Concordia Pow Wow continues to grow — in size and spirit
Zye Rashontiiostha Mayo is a student from Kahnawà:ke who is Snipe Clan. He is a graduate of Kahnawake Survival School (KSS) and a current student at Dawson College. During his time at KSS, Mayo worked with Concordia professor Kristy Snell and students in Concordia’s Department of Journalism to produce web and radio stories about his community for CBC.
The third annual Concordia Pow Wow was on Friday, September 13 at Loyola Campus. The Pow Wow is organized by the Otsenhákta Student Centre to celebrate First Nations, Inuit and Métis students at Concordia and highlight the traditions of different Indigenous Peoples, including those who have lived on the land where Concordia now sits. The event brought even more guests, students, vendors and performers than last year, making it the largest Concordia Pow Wow so far.
Manon Tremblay, who is Plains Cree from the Muskeg Lake Cree Nation, is the senior director of Indigenous Directions at Concordia. Tremblay believes that the Pow Wow is the best way to start up the academic year.
“Very often on university campuses, we Indigenous people tend to become invisible, and our culture becomes invisible,” Tremblay says. “The Pow Wow is one occasion where we are visible, and we can show our culture and who we are.”
The dances and songs at the Pow Wow are proof of that — right outside their classrooms, students experienced how Indigenous Peoples’ cultures can both look and sound.
“Really, it’s a spirit we’re bringing together, which is community, togetherness and pride in who we are,” says Otsenhákta Student Centre manager Cheyenne Henry. Henry is from Winnipeg, within Treaty One territory, and is a member of the Roseau River Anishinaabe First Nation.
She emphasizes the collaborative effort it took to welcome community to the event. “When we have a Pow Wow, it’s like we’re inviting people into our home. And so we want to make sure we’re treating them like guests in our home.”
‘It’s really good to get everyone engaged’
The Pow Wow was MC’ed by Lance Delisle, from Kahnawà:ke, who also sat on the planning committee. Drawing from his extensive experience hosting Pow Wows, Delisle invited a roster of people he trusted to help him bring Indigenous songs, dance and culture right to Loyola campus.
“I think it is important to spotlight a different aspect of what it is to be a First Nations person in today's world — and that we are still here and have things to say and have beautiful, wonderful people to give an example to,” Delisle says.
For some Indigenous people, Pow Wows are the source of life needed to feel connected to their culture. Owen Skahionwiio Mayo, from Kahnawà:ke, has taken part in all the Concordia Pow Wows, dancing the Iroquois Smoke Dance and the Men’s Traditional. Mayo says, “Pow Wows were the way to keep me grounded and gave me a good sense of pride of who I was, who I am, and the path I need to be on for a healthy life.”
Indigenous representation at Concordia is a boon for First Nations, Inuit and Métis students and gives all students a chance to learn more about Indigenous cultures.
“It’s honestly so nice to be represented in our community and have our own event,” says Aidan Condo, a student in First Peoples Studies. Condo is Mi’gmaq from the community of Gesgapegiag and was also on the Pow Wow planning committee.
“Having these huge events for the whole Concordia community, it’s really good to get everyone engaged, to educate people and to just celebrate and have a good time.”
Communications studies student Nava Camlot says she has seen the Pow Wow grow since its first year. “I think it’s a great opportunity for us to see the dances and hear the songs in an environment we normally wouldn’t. I think that is an education in itself.”
Find out more about Concordia’s Otsenhákta Student Centre.