Timiskaming First Nation's
10th Annual Pow-Wow and
Traditional Gathering
August 25-26, 2012
Honoring "Our Ancestors"
10th Annual Pow-Wow and
Traditional Gathering
August 25-26, 2012
Honoring "Our Ancestors"
Timiskaming First Nation Annual Pow-Wow and Traditional Gathering
Pow Wows are considered both a sacred and social event by traditional Anishnabe families. It is a time to renew our ties with the beliefs and traditions of our ancestors. It also is a time to enjoy the company of family and friends both new and old. This is the one real opportunity that most people have to see Anishnabe traditions in action! We do not charge for admission, parking or camping space. In addition to viewing and participating in the dances, visitors can browse through art, craft, souvenir, and food booths.
August 25-26, 2012 our First Nation will be celebrating it's 10th Annual Powwow and Traditional Gathering, honoring "Our Ancestors"
Contact
Dan Lavigne
Timiskaming First Nation
tel: 819-723-2335
fax: 819-723-2353
email: TFN Pow-Wow
Dan Lavigne
Timiskaming First Nation
tel: 819-723-2335
fax: 819-723-2353
email: TFN Pow-Wow
Host Drum:
Co-Host Drum:
Sweatlodge &
Sunrise Ceremony Conductor:
M.C.: TBA
Arena Director:
Brad Polson
Head Elders:
Grandmother:
Head Veteran: TBA
Head Dancers Male:
Head Dancers Female:
Youth Head Dancers Male: TBA
Youth Head Dancer Female:
Co-Host Drum:
Sweatlodge &
Sunrise Ceremony Conductor:
M.C.: TBA
Arena Director:
Brad Polson
Head Elders:
Grandmother:
Head Veteran: TBA
Head Dancers Male:
Head Dancers Female:
Youth Head Dancers Male: TBA
Youth Head Dancer Female:
Pow-wow Terminology
Arbour
Central area of the Pow-wow grounds where the drums and singers are situated.
Beadwork
The beautiful designs created by sewing beads onto a particular piece of regalia. Beads were originally made from conch shells.
Breatplate
Made from thin hallowed out bones or long beads which are strung together to cover the dancer's chest from the shoulders down to waist or knees.
Bustles
Made from feathers which are arranged together in a radial manner. They were originally worn by only a few honored men, but now they are usually worn by men's traditional and fancy feather dancers. Fancy feather dancers use turkey, hawk or eagle feathers, while men's traditional dancers almost always use eagle feathers.
Roach
Type of headdress made from porcupine and deer hair. There are usually several rows of hair tied to a woven base, which allows the hair to stand up and move grace fully as the dancer mover. It is attached by a roach pin to braid of hair or to strings tied around the head. Longer roaches are now in style, varying from 18 to 22 inches in length. Two feathers are usually attached to the roach.
Grand Entry
The parade of dancers which opens each pow-wow session. The Eagle Staffs are carried first into the circle, followed by the national flag and any other flag, usually carried by Veterans. The head dancers, along with any princesses or princes in attendance, and invited dignitaries are next in order. The men's dancers follow next, and then the women's dancers, then the junior girls, with the little boys and girls last. After the Grand Entry, there is a Flag Song and then a prayer by an Elder in his/her language. The Eagle Staffs and the flags are then placed by the arbor.
Giveaways
A universal custom among the peoples of Turtle Island. Turtle Island societies believe that a person who is being honored should provide gifts to other members of the society. Giveaways are appropriate for the big events in a person's life, such as being the head dancer or entering the dance area in regalia for the first time. Giveaways by people being honored or in honor of someone else are common at Pow-wows.
HonorSongs
Requested to honor a person for almost any reason, including a deceased person. People are requested to stand during honor songs.
Inter-tribals
Songs which belong to no particular nation. Most inter-tribals are sung with vocals instead of words. They have become very popular because anyone can dance to these songs, which results in more people dancing.
Round Dance
Usually held at the beginning of a pow-wow session. The dancers form a large circle in the dance area, with each dance style remaining together. A song is sung with a heavy 1-2-1 pattern and the dancers move laterally around the dance area. The faster styles dance closer to the arbor, and the slower styles dance farther away. Round dances are usually sung in sets of three or four songs.
Two-Step
The head men's dancer and the head women's dancer dance together and lead a long string of paired dancers. The women usually ask the men to dance, and the men must dance when asked. The two-step can become very intricate, with the pairs splitting apart for a time and then rejoining later. People usually end up laughing as they dot eh two-step.
Pow-wow Dance Styles
Fancy Feather Dancers
This is a men's type of dance that consists of brightly colored regalia with twin feather bustles worn on the back. Their regalia features bright ribbons and brightly colored cloth, as well as great amounts of beadwork, including beaded headband, medallions, armbands and cuffs. The roach consists of two feathers is worn on the head moving freely as the dancer moves. It is a dance style with fast and intricate footwork combined with up and down spins that is much more energetic than other men's styles. The quick moves of this style require agility and stamina.
Grass Dancers
This type of men's dance consists of a swaying dance style which features loose and flowing movements along with an emphasis on shoulder-shaking. The Grass Dancer usually is the ones that open the Pow-wow as the grass is stomped down allowing the other dancers to have a smooth dance ground. Their regalia have very colorful yarn and ribbon which allows the dancer to move their fringes in as many places as possible, creating a style which flows as the wind.
Men's Traditional Dancers
The traditional male dancer is distinguished by the style of their dance which portrays the dancer's quest for game. A large eagle feather bustle is worn on the back shaped like a U, extending up past the shoulder and points upwards. They wear loud bells on the ankles, a beaded breastplate over their shirt and carry a variety of sacred objects, including the eagle wing fan. The dancer takes two steps with one foot and then two steps with the other, and moving his body and head as though he is hunting for game.
Fancy Shawl Dancers
This women's dance style is with high-stepping footwork and a whirl of beauty, agility and grace as they keep time with the music. Their style mimics butterflies in flight and the shawls imitating wings. The regalia consists of a brightly-colored shawl which is held with outstretched arms and worn over the shoulders and is decorated with ribbon fringes, elaborate designs, and appliqué. It is a dance style that emphasizes a constant whirl of graceful jumps, spins and intricate footwork.
Women's Jingle Dress Dancers
The jingle dress is a dress, skirt or apron worn over an undershirt so that when the dancer wants to sit down, she raises the outer skirt in order to avoid crushing the cones. There are 365 cones on the regalia, one for each day of the year, which is attached to the dress by a short piece of ribbon. A jingle dress dancer places one hand on her hip which also holds a purse and the other holds a white wing-feather which she holds up while she dances. The footwork is similar to the fancy shawl dancer.
Women's Traditional Dancers
Buckskin regalia with intricate beadwork designs, fringed shawls folded over one arm, and a dance style with slow and posed movements as the dancers bob to the drum distinguish women's traditional dancing from the other women's categories. Their regalia feature fine handcrafted buckskin dresses which are decorated with intricate beadwork and long fringes. Their jewelry includes beaded barrettes, a beaded yoke with long buckskin strips that extend to the ankles, and fully beaded moccasins. The dancers carry a folded shawl with long fringes over one arm and usually a fan in the hand of the other arm. Some dancers also carry a beaded bag. They must always have one foot in contact with Mother Earth as their regalia moves like a breeze through a willow tree.
Pow-wow Etiquette
Arbour
Central area of the Pow-wow grounds where the drums and singers are situated.
Beadwork
The beautiful designs created by sewing beads onto a particular piece of regalia. Beads were originally made from conch shells.
Breatplate
Made from thin hallowed out bones or long beads which are strung together to cover the dancer's chest from the shoulders down to waist or knees.
Bustles
Made from feathers which are arranged together in a radial manner. They were originally worn by only a few honored men, but now they are usually worn by men's traditional and fancy feather dancers. Fancy feather dancers use turkey, hawk or eagle feathers, while men's traditional dancers almost always use eagle feathers.
Roach
Type of headdress made from porcupine and deer hair. There are usually several rows of hair tied to a woven base, which allows the hair to stand up and move grace fully as the dancer mover. It is attached by a roach pin to braid of hair or to strings tied around the head. Longer roaches are now in style, varying from 18 to 22 inches in length. Two feathers are usually attached to the roach.
Grand Entry
The parade of dancers which opens each pow-wow session. The Eagle Staffs are carried first into the circle, followed by the national flag and any other flag, usually carried by Veterans. The head dancers, along with any princesses or princes in attendance, and invited dignitaries are next in order. The men's dancers follow next, and then the women's dancers, then the junior girls, with the little boys and girls last. After the Grand Entry, there is a Flag Song and then a prayer by an Elder in his/her language. The Eagle Staffs and the flags are then placed by the arbor.
Giveaways
A universal custom among the peoples of Turtle Island. Turtle Island societies believe that a person who is being honored should provide gifts to other members of the society. Giveaways are appropriate for the big events in a person's life, such as being the head dancer or entering the dance area in regalia for the first time. Giveaways by people being honored or in honor of someone else are common at Pow-wows.
HonorSongs
Requested to honor a person for almost any reason, including a deceased person. People are requested to stand during honor songs.
Inter-tribals
Songs which belong to no particular nation. Most inter-tribals are sung with vocals instead of words. They have become very popular because anyone can dance to these songs, which results in more people dancing.
Round Dance
Usually held at the beginning of a pow-wow session. The dancers form a large circle in the dance area, with each dance style remaining together. A song is sung with a heavy 1-2-1 pattern and the dancers move laterally around the dance area. The faster styles dance closer to the arbor, and the slower styles dance farther away. Round dances are usually sung in sets of three or four songs.
Two-Step
The head men's dancer and the head women's dancer dance together and lead a long string of paired dancers. The women usually ask the men to dance, and the men must dance when asked. The two-step can become very intricate, with the pairs splitting apart for a time and then rejoining later. People usually end up laughing as they dot eh two-step.
Pow-wow Dance Styles
Fancy Feather Dancers
This is a men's type of dance that consists of brightly colored regalia with twin feather bustles worn on the back. Their regalia features bright ribbons and brightly colored cloth, as well as great amounts of beadwork, including beaded headband, medallions, armbands and cuffs. The roach consists of two feathers is worn on the head moving freely as the dancer moves. It is a dance style with fast and intricate footwork combined with up and down spins that is much more energetic than other men's styles. The quick moves of this style require agility and stamina.
Grass Dancers
This type of men's dance consists of a swaying dance style which features loose and flowing movements along with an emphasis on shoulder-shaking. The Grass Dancer usually is the ones that open the Pow-wow as the grass is stomped down allowing the other dancers to have a smooth dance ground. Their regalia have very colorful yarn and ribbon which allows the dancer to move their fringes in as many places as possible, creating a style which flows as the wind.
Men's Traditional Dancers
The traditional male dancer is distinguished by the style of their dance which portrays the dancer's quest for game. A large eagle feather bustle is worn on the back shaped like a U, extending up past the shoulder and points upwards. They wear loud bells on the ankles, a beaded breastplate over their shirt and carry a variety of sacred objects, including the eagle wing fan. The dancer takes two steps with one foot and then two steps with the other, and moving his body and head as though he is hunting for game.
Fancy Shawl Dancers
This women's dance style is with high-stepping footwork and a whirl of beauty, agility and grace as they keep time with the music. Their style mimics butterflies in flight and the shawls imitating wings. The regalia consists of a brightly-colored shawl which is held with outstretched arms and worn over the shoulders and is decorated with ribbon fringes, elaborate designs, and appliqué. It is a dance style that emphasizes a constant whirl of graceful jumps, spins and intricate footwork.
Women's Jingle Dress Dancers
The jingle dress is a dress, skirt or apron worn over an undershirt so that when the dancer wants to sit down, she raises the outer skirt in order to avoid crushing the cones. There are 365 cones on the regalia, one for each day of the year, which is attached to the dress by a short piece of ribbon. A jingle dress dancer places one hand on her hip which also holds a purse and the other holds a white wing-feather which she holds up while she dances. The footwork is similar to the fancy shawl dancer.
Women's Traditional Dancers
Buckskin regalia with intricate beadwork designs, fringed shawls folded over one arm, and a dance style with slow and posed movements as the dancers bob to the drum distinguish women's traditional dancing from the other women's categories. Their regalia feature fine handcrafted buckskin dresses which are decorated with intricate beadwork and long fringes. Their jewelry includes beaded barrettes, a beaded yoke with long buckskin strips that extend to the ankles, and fully beaded moccasins. The dancers carry a folded shawl with long fringes over one arm and usually a fan in the hand of the other arm. Some dancers also carry a beaded bag. They must always have one foot in contact with Mother Earth as their regalia moves like a breeze through a willow tree.
Pow-wow Etiquette
- Pow-wows are fun events, but they are also sacred events. Ceremonial songs and dances, which are sacred, are performed from time to time throughout the pow-wow.
- People should stand during all ceremonial songs and dances. These include the Grand Enter, Flag Songs, Veteran Songs, Honor Songs and any other songs that the M.C. designates as ceremonial songs.
- Do not take any photos or video or sound recordings of ceremonies without asking permission from the person or group you are recording. Some areas of Turtle Island do not allow the recording of ceremonies, period.
- People should listen to the M.C. because he will announce the different songs and will also let people know when they can dance and when they cannot. He will also give out other information and news.
- Respect the Elders, drummers, singers, dancers, and the pow-wow staff and committee.
- The dancers wear regalia while they are dancing, not "costumes". People should not touch the regalia before asking for permission.
- Appropriate dress and behavior are required in the dance area.
- People should take good care of their children at pow-wows. Please make sure they are not getting into other peoples personal items as they are dancing.
- Do no hold children while dancing in the dance area unless carrying the child in a carrier on the back. The child may be construed as a gift to the Creator.
- Do not run around the dance area. Always walk in a clockwise direction when you are in the dance area. Horseplay is not tolerated.
- Do not bring alcohol or drugs to a pow-wow. Do not come to a pow-wow while you are intoxicated.
- Dogs are not allowed around the pow-wow area. They may become drums.
- Bring your own chairs. Do not sit on someone else's chair unless you have their permission.
- Shelters are for the Elders so please move if you see your seat is needed.
- The Sacred fire is also a ceremony and a place for prayer. Respect to fire keepers and no fooling around the fire.
- Women on their moon time should not attend the pow-wow. Their bodies are going through a ceremony and the energy around them is too powerful
- Remember you are a guest. Have fun, ask questions and meet people.