Tag Archives: cultural celebration

Spirit of the Drum Powwow an ‘incredible experience’ in Smiths Falls

Photo credit: Kathy Botham.
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LAURIE WEIR

Duck Island was alive with music, movement and meaning on June 14 and 15 as the Spirit of the Drum Powwow returned to Smiths Falls. With more than 30 Indigenous vendors and participants from across Turtle Island, the weekend event celebrated culture, connection and community under sunny skies and the steady heartbeat of the drum.

The powwow featured traditional Grand Entries each day, bringing together jingle, grass, fancy and woodland-style dancers, along with Elders, singers and knowledge-keepers. Spectators were invited into the circle for intertribal dances and teachings, and many stayed to explore the vendors who lined the island with handmade beadwork, crafts, medicines, food and educational offerings.

Mayor Shawn Pankow attended both days and called the event “an incredible experience” during the June 16 regular meeting of council. He said he was moved by the number of people who travelled to the event from across the continent, including as far as Arizona, Alberta, the Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Québec and throughout Ontario.

“They were very grateful that a small municipality delivered this type of commitment to reconciliation,” Pankow said. “To provide this forum for Indigenous people to celebrate their culture, to share their wisdom and their experience, and for all of us to move forward in a very positive manner.”

The mayor credited a small group of dedicated organizers for making the event a success: Indigenous consultant Josée Bourgeois, Kristi Donovan, Paul Merredew, director of community services Stephanie Clark, and Pankow himself.

“It was one of the most meaningful events we can host as a community,” he said.

Pankow also proclaimed June 21 as National Indigenous Peoples Day in Smiths Falls, aligning with the summer solstice and the National Day of Recognition for First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples.

A committee debrief is expected in the coming weeks, with planning already underway for next year’s powwow.

Spirit of the Drum Powwow returns to Duck Island in Smiths Falls this weekend

Spirit of the Drum Powwow 2022
Smiths Falls Spirit of the Drum Powwow in 2022. Photo credit: Kathy Botham.
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LAURIE WEIR

The Spirit of the Drum Powwow returns to Duck Island this weekend following a one-year hiatus.

The event runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, June 14, and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, June 15. Grand Entry takes place at noon each day. Admission is free.

The 2024 powwow was cancelled, prompting criticism from community members and partners. In response, council issued a formal apology to the Algonquin people and committed up to $65,000 to support the event’s return this year.

Mayor Shawn Pankow acknowledged the town made mistakes in how the cancellation was communicated and handled. He said the town let down members of the powwow committee, performers, vendors and Indigenous students who had helped organize previous events.

Council approved the funding last July. Pankow called the investment a meaningful act of reconciliation and an opportunity to rebuild relationships with community partners.

The $65,000 package includes contributions from the Smiths Falls Police Services Board, Parks Canada and the Upper Canada District School Board. Additional grants and sponsorships were also pursued.

Josée, an Algonquin woman from Pikwakanagan who has worked with the town and school board since 2016 to support the powwow, said the apology and financial commitment reflect stronger awareness and deeper understanding of reconciliation efforts among council members.

Organizers expect increased participation this year, including more dancers, drum groups and vendors. The event is hosted in partnership with Indigenous students at Smiths Falls District Collegiate Institute, volunteers and local supporters.

Attendees are encouraged to bring chairs, hats and water. The weekend forecast calls for a high of 20 C on Saturday with a mix of sun and cloud, and up to 24 C with sunny skies on Sunday.

Indigenous culture celebrated at Carleton Place fair supporting Art for Aid

Fred Goodchild and Robert Manson taken by the planning committee. Photo credit: Submitted.

Learning about Indigenous Culture in Carleton Place

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On May 3rd Zion Memorial United Church and the Carleton Place Public Library came together in support of Art for Aid in a fundraising event to celebrate and learn about Indigenous culture. Despite cooler weather, the crowds came and enjoyed this annual celebration. Art for Aid, a program of the Canadian registered charity Soaring Circle, collects and ships art supplies to remote Indigenous schools across Canada from September to May out of their Carleton Place shipping office.

Art for Aid and the Indigenous Cultural Fair Planning Committee would like to thank the generous sponsors and donors that made this event a great success: The Town of Carleton Place, Tim Horton’s, Rental Village, Bean Chevrolet Buick GMC, Earth Fest/Lanark County Transportation Shuttle Service, Staples Carleton Place, The Humm, Hauraney Photography and all the wonderful volunteers who came to help setup, run the event and take it all down at the end of the day.

Next year’s event will be held on Saturday May 23 2026. If you are interested in being part of our dynamic and fun planning committee for this fast-growing event, you can email us at indigenousfair@zion-memorial.ca or at artforaid2013@gmail.com. We begin planning in September. To learn more about Art for Aid visit www.artforaid.ca.

‘We’ve made some mistakes’: Smiths Falls council apologizes following cancellation of this year’s pow wow

Spirit of the Drum Powwow 2022
Smiths Falls Spirit of the Drum Powwow in 2022. Photo credit: Kathy Botham.

Town commits up to $65,000 to Spirit of the Drum Pow Wow for 2025

LAURIE WEIR

After the cancellation of this year’s Spirit of the Drum Pow Wow in Smiths Falls, the town council has committed to invest up to $65,000 to host this cultural event in 2025.

They’ve also issued an apology to the Algonquin people.

Smiths Falls sits on the ancestral and unsurrendered territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabe Nation.

Mayor Shawn Pankow expressed “extreme gratitude to Josée for meeting with us and enabling a pathway to the pow wow for 2025.”

Pankow said they recognize how “meaningful the pow wow is.”

At the same time, “we need to acknowledge that we’ve made some mistakes along the way and I think those mistakes did create some unfortunate feelings within members of the pow wow committee … we let down a lot of the performers, the dancers, the drummers, participants, the vendors, who expected the pow wow to go ahead.”

The mayor said further the Smiths Falls and District Collegiate Institute’s (SFDCI) Indigenous Studies students “poured their hearts and souls into making sure this could happen in years past. In many ways, we failed to ensure it happened. The positive part is that we can ensure that it happens again in 2025.

Pankow noted that a social media post by the town earlier this year indicated that the cancellation was “due to unforeseen circumstances.”

“Sometimes communication that’s expressed is received differently than it’s intended,” Pankow said, as it may have looked like it was blamed on the partners. I don’t think that was the intention, but that was the reality that was felt by some of our partners.”

As an organization, Pankow said, “We do make mistakes, but it’s important that we acknowledge that, we learn from that, we grow from that and we do what we can to reconcile that for the future.”

The mayor said Josée’s involvement has been “extremely meaningful, and her commitment to helping us bring the pow wow back is deeply appreciated.”

Pankow said he knows this is “an important act of reconciliation for our community, the municipality, and the broader community and is an opportunity for celebration in ways that we otherwise could not do.”

It’s important that the town make the financial commitment now so they can move forward with this cultural event for 2025, the mayor said.

Josée is an Algonquin First Nations from Pikwakanagan. She is “just an individual” in this story, she said, on Aug. 1, when she asked that we use only her first name.

She and Paul Merredew of the Indigenous Education Department of the UCDSB and a teacher at SFDCI, have been working with four committee planners on the pow wow over the years.

“This has been an ongoing collaboration since 2016,” she said. “The Town of Smiths Falls are the funders along with the school board, and we’ve had some other sponsors.”

The involvement of a First Nations party, she said, is only herself. “I’m an individual entity. I don’t represent my First Nations. I don’t work for the Algonquins of Pikwaknagan.”

Regarding the town’s apology, Josée said the town is “taking steps in reconcilli-ACTION, to reach out to appropriate parties in the area – recognizing that Smiths Falls sits on the unsurrendered territory of the Algonquin people.”

To reach out to an Algonquin individual, Josée said that would be the “authentic way to start a collaboration. It started small in 2016 and has gotten bigger each year.”

It all worked out in the end, she said, “so it will be proceeding next year.”

When asked about the town’s apology, Josée said, “It was the right thing to do … the result is positive.”

It’s a stronger connection and “more of a cognizance amongst the council ensuring the sustainability of this pow wow.”

In a media release this week, the Town of Smiths Falls stated that it is keen to ensure that the Spirit of the Drum Pow Wow returns stronger than ever in 2025.

“We thank the community for their understanding and patience as we navigate this process. The Town of Smiths Falls remains committed to reconciliation, cultural celebration, and community engagement. By resolution of Council on July 22nd, 2024, the Town of Smiths Falls committed the funding required in the 2025 budget to ensure the return of the Spirit of the Drum Pow Wow to our community next year. We are grateful to our partners, and are looking forward to working together to create a vibrant and inclusive event next June.”

FINANCIALS

“The budget in all previous years was $50,000,” for this pow wow, Pankow told this publication on Aug. 1. “Understanding costs have increased, council committed to an upside limit of $65,000, expecting pow wow partners, Parks Canada and the Upper Canada District School Board will continue with their previous commitments of $5,000 and $10,000 respectively.”

The Smiths Falls Police Services Board has also committed $5,000 from its “Proceeds of Crime” purse, the mayor stated during a regular committee meeting on July 22.

“With plenty of lead time, the town will also be pursuing grant opportunities and possibly additional sources of revenue,” Pankow said.

Since that July 22 apology and funding announcement at council, the mayor said he’s heard nothing but positive feedback. “I believe the community is eager to once again participate in The Spirit of the Drum Pow Wow in 2025,” he said.

Stephanie Clark, the town’s director of community services, said the pre-approved budget amount of $65,000 was a “reasonable number” to execute the pow wow for 2025.

“We wanted to make sure we did it right and we’re committing wholly and wholeheartedly to ensuring that it comes back in 2025,” she said during the meeting.

Coun. Peter McKenna said $65,000 was the “top end” of the funding amount for this event and if other grant opportunities come through during the next year, “and our other partners step up it could be much less.”

Smiths Falls’ Spirit of the Drum Powwow cancelled due to funding shortage

Spirit of the Drum Powwow 2022
Smiths Falls Spirit of the Drum Powwow in 2022. Photo credit: Kathy Botham.
LAURIE WEIR

It takes about $50,000 to host the Smiths Falls Spirit of the Drum Powwow and this year, funding came up $15,000 short. 

Julia Crowder, the town’s economic development manager, told this publication Monday morning, May 27 that she was hoping the funding would come through, but unfortunately that didn’t happen. 

“We are extremely disappointed we weren’t able to proceed with the powwow this year but fully expect to bring it back in 2025,” she said. “The planning committee and other (partners) are meeting to discuss the future of powwow and how to ensure it can be sustainable for years to come.” 

Held here since 2017, the Spirit of the Drum Powwow has been a community partnership between the town and the Indigenous Studies Program at Smiths Falls Collegiate Institute. Hosted over two days, it’s been an interactive and educational celebration. 

SFDCI’s objective was educating and sharing First Nations culture with youth and the community. Students worked throughout the year to develop art installations and historical exhibits, showcased on Duck Island, which identified issues central to the history of First Nations in Canada and the importance of Reconciliation but also ReconciliACTION. This term was coined by Gord Downie of the Downie Wenjack Foundation, and is meant to inspire people to not just talk about what needs to change, but to actually do something to change it. Spirit of the Drum powwow is meant to represent this call to action.

Smiths Falls Spirit of the Drum Powwow
Photo credit: Kathy Botham.

Each year the powwow grows and we continue to host thousands of people over the two-day event, Crowder stated.

The Spirit of the Drum Traditional Powwow continues to be an extension of SFDCI’s Indigenous studies program and Real-World Learning opportunities for students, which partners with Indigenous Cultural Advisors and Knowledge Keepers who come into Indigenous Studies English and Art classes to provide real-world learning opportunities for students. The powwow is meant to showcase the culmination of the learning that has taken place over the school year.  

The Smiths Falls community has embraced Indigenous heritage and the stories of the First Nations people found throughout the Lanark Leeds Grenville and Frontenac region and Smiths Falls resides on the unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabe Nation.

“A powwow is an important event for First Nations peoples,” Crowder stated. “It’s a chance for them to remember and celebrate their traditions through drumming and dancing and ceremony. For powwow visitors, it’s a vibrant, colorful and exciting opportunity to experience traditional Indigenous culture, and get a better understanding of the issues they face.”

Crowder said the powwow planning partners had to make the hard call to cancel this year’s event due to lack of funding needed to pay for the full cost executing the event this year.  

Annual core funding is provided by the Upper Canada District School Board and the Town of Smiths Falls.  The UCDSB provides a contribution of $10,000. The town this year increased its contribution to $20,000.

“Parks Canada has also been an ongoing partner providing both monetary and in-kind support since the event started in 2017 and this year, we received a contribution of $5,000. Another smaller grant was also awarded to the school from Desjardins to cover the cost of the Grand Feast. 

This left a short fall over approximately $15,000,” she said. 

The planning partners applied for two additional grants to cover the cost of the remaining funds needed to host the event, being Celebrate Ontario (provincial) and the Canadian Heritage Trust Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Program (federal).  

“On April 30 we were advised that our Celebrate grant was unsuccessful (we were also unsuccessful last year). And we still have not heard back on the other grant.  Over the last three years we have seen past grant opportunities for special events become less available and therefore more competitive, favouring larger events that draw huge crowds, which leaves small communities and events at a disadvantage.”

The planning partners waited until the last possible second to make the call and advised participants and partners, in the hope grant funding would come through, Crowder noted. 

According to April Scott-Clark, communications manager at the UCDSB, she said the board, through its Indigenous Education funding, has supported the Spirit of the Drum Powwow since it began with a consistent amount of $10,000 every year. 

“We have again allocated $10,000 to the 2024 event,” she said. “We also provide the same amount of funding each year to the Akwesasne Powwow. These powwows are excellent opportunities for Indigenous students to connect with their culture, learn more about their heritage and educate the community at the same time.” 

Scott-Clark said the Board confirmed its commitment of the annual $10,000 to the Powwow organizers in the fall. 

“It is our understanding that organizers were unsuccessful with grant applications this year, which has left them short of funding. We have offered to connect town organizers with members of the Akwesasne Powwow committee to learn about the funding strategies they have used to create a sustainable event.”

The Table Community Food Centre’s Cultural Celebrations Project explores global food cultures

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In December, with support from Feed Ontario’s Feeding Possibilities grant, The Table Community Food Centre launched the Cultural Celebrations Project. The main element of the project are cultural celebrations on the first Friday of every month during The Table’s regular Community Meals (4:30-6:00pm). So far the feedback is overwhelmingly positive from The Table’s participants, staff and community members. “These events should be encouraged. This is how we learn about other cultures, great idea” commented one regular participant.

In the small rural town of Perth, where the demographics are ever changing, the Cultural Celebrations Project offers exposure to different cultures by way of a monthly celebration. At each event The Table’s dining hall gets a cultural makeover. The walls are decorated, the room is filled with music, and the smell of something wonderful cooking fills the space. The whole evening is dedicated to exploring one specific culture from around the world and The Table’s staff, volunteers, and community members work together to make it come to life. The Community Chefs work with a volunteer cultural ambassador to curate a menu for The Table participants to enjoy and even potentially replicate at home.  Along with cultural exposure, the Cultural Celebrations Project aims to break down barriers when it comes to accessing ethnic ingredients and approaching ethnic cooking. Enjoying simple and authentic cultural meals monthly has been a hit, as The Table has seen an average of a 44% increase in participants on the first Friday of the month.

Haley Wolk, Assistant to the Cultural Celebrations Project says: “These events have been so rewarding to participate in because each one takes on a life of its own. The spirit of each culture being celebrated comes to the forefront. Participants and community members share experiences, learn together, and get to enjoy a pretty delicious meal at the same time.”

What’s on the menu for carnival: Project Assistant Haley Wolk (second from left) poses with Table volunteers Brenda Caders, Krystyna Chelminska Kim Botsford, and Jean-Robert Anthony.
Dancer Johanna De Los Santos De Vásquez demonstrates the merengue as part of the Dominican Carnival cultural celebration.
Photo credits: Courtesy of The Table Community Food Centre.

“What a joy to have the opportunity, through Feed Ontario, to honour a variety of cultures through celebration. The Cultural Celebrations Project offers a look into the food, recipes, music, activities, decor and history of various cultures. Learning and collaborating through celebration has drawn interest and stimulated a desire to welcome new experiences with our participants” noted  Stephanie Corrin, Social Justice & Advocacy Coordinator at The Table.

So far the Cultural Celebrations included: Hanukkah in December, Ukrainian New Years in January, and Dominican Carnival in February. Up next will be a look at Filipino culture and rumour has it a whole roasted pig is on its way to The Table!

The Table hopes to see the Cultural Celebrations take place beyond the specified grant period. Through the lens of diversity and inclusion, the possibilities are vast and sharing a meal with your neighbour is a universal way of building bridges.