The 33rd annual Echoes of a Proud Nation Pow Wow returned to Kahnawake July 12-13, attracting thousands of visitors to celebrate Indigenous culture through vibrant songs, dances, traditional foods and handcrafted art.
Organizer Lynne Norton said the event brought together many Nations, including Cree participants, with dedicated information booths.
“They come here, they dance, they sell, and people like that,” she said. “It’s something for the community, it helps their economics too, because they do all their own handicrafts, beadwork, moccasins.”
Norton explained that the Kahnawake powwow started after the Oka Crisis in 1990 to show people Indigenous culture and traditions, and “start bridging the gaps,” Norton said.
Around 150 dancers in different categories demonstrated their stories through regalia inspired by their traditions.
For Tiffany Plain, a Cree jingle dress dancer, participating at the powwow was both personal and symbolic.
“I’m a medicine dancer,” she explained. “It’s a healing dance, praying for people who need it. Mostly we pray for Mother Earth.”
Originally from Sandy Bay and Saskatoon, now living on a military base with her family, Plain carries her culture with her wherever she goes. “Every Nation has different meanings, but it’s basically all the same – the celebration of life,” she said.
While she admits speaking only a few words in Cree, Plain believes a message transcends the language, one of resilience, tradition and welcome.
Le Loup Dansant, from the Abenaki community of Odanak, presented a traditional intertribal dance. He believes such gatherings help keep traditions alive, offering both visitors and First Nations people the chance to connect, learn and celebrate together.
“It’s important to show who we are and where we come from,” he said. “It’s encouraging for the audience to see all of us, from the youngest to the Elders.”
Then he added, “I’m 71 years old, but I continue to dance, to do demonstrations, and to work in schools.”
Alongside the dancing and drumming, the event offered a bustling marketplace where hundreds of Indigenous vendors set up kiosks showcasing traditional crafts and artwork.
For Cheyanne Doxtador, an Oneida entrepreneur from Six Nations, the powwow is more than just selling her product, it’s a meaningful way to share Indigenous culture.
Her Yo Yo Weh Babies handmade cloth dolls, some of which sing in Mohawk, serve as unique souvenirs and as children’s toys that help pass on the language to the next generation.
“I make them by machine and hand sewing,” Doxtador explained. “I do light beadwork on them by hand, and then I get my children to sing the songs for the dolls.”
The presence of education centres at the event highlighted a wider commitment to supporting Indigenous-led learning while encouraging cultural pride and academic achievement.
Cyrus Smoke, a Mohawk and a representative of Vanier College’s Anowara Indigenous Student Centre, believes that participating in the powwow is about visibility and connection.
“We want to showcase that Vanier is a safe space for Indigenous students,” Smoke said. “It’s a wonderful college to keep Indigenous students happy and safe.”
Maude Laviolette, an Inuit student at Vanier, thinks raising awareness about the centre means ensuring Indigenous students have a welcoming, supportive environment where learning and cultural identity are respected.
“The centre means a lot to me,” Laviolette said. “It’s so important to have a safe space for Indigenous students who want to be educated.”
Sonya Desousa, a resident of Delson, attended the powwow feeling it was time to connect with the Kahnawake community she often serves working at the nearby Home Depot in Saint-Constant.
“It’s something I wanted to experience,” she said. “It’s important that we visit and understand the culture and immerse ourselves in the traditions of the people from Kahnawake.”
In her opinion, attending the event is part of acknowledging history.
“It’s important for us, who are non-Indigenous, to understand what they went through,” Desousa said. “And part of understanding and apologizing is to embrace their culture, their music, their dance, and to encourage their businesses.”
For Kimberly Cross, a long-time member of the powwow organizing committee, each year is about creating a welcoming space for everyone for cultural connection.
“For us, it’s gathering in peace and friendship, and making sure that we’re continuing for years to come,” she said. “We are inviting everybody, if people are coming, then that’s their step towards reconciliation.”