Community welcomed to first competition powwow held in Dawson Creek
Last Updated on Wednesday, 06 July 2011 16:57 Tuesday, 05 July 2011 20:52
By Matthew Bains
Matthew Bains photo
A dance group with Aboriginal Family Services in Dawson Creek performs during an Aboriginal Day celebration at the Northern Lights College campus on June 22.
DAWSON CREEK – The community is encouraged to come out and witness the pageantry and beauty of First Nations’ dance and song during the first annual competition powwow to be held in Dawson Creek.
The event takes place July 8-10 at the Memorial Arena. A dance group supported by Aboriginal Family Services in Dawson Creek has been given the honour of hosting the competition powwow, which will see dancers of all ages contend for cash prizes. It differs from a traditional powwow, where every participant usually receives an honourarium.
“At competitions, you get a lot of the best dancers, and that’s why we wanted a competition,” said Gary Belcourt, a member of the volunteer organizing committee.
The dancers will be divided by gender and age, with males competing in four categories of dance – traditional, fancy bustle, grass, and chicken – and females competing in three categories - traditional, fancy shawl and jingle – with each dance having its own cultural significance. The dancers will be judged and awarded points over the three days of competition, and the top three in each category will be awarded cash prizes.
The dancers will perform to songs done by drum groups, which usually consist of about 10 drummers/singers. They are not only competing against other dancers, but against the drum groups as well, who will try to challenge the dancers by changing parts of the songs.
“When they look at the dancers, the judges are making sure they are always on beat with the drum,” said organizer Denise Paul-Belcourt. “My Elder told me traditionally, when powwow first started, it was the dancer competing against the drum.”
Belcourt added if the dancing is too close to determine winners, the judges will look for more minute details – if their regalia is complete, for example.
The drum groups will also be judged in the timing of their songs by the “host” drum, a group of that is not part of the competition but instead performs ceremonies such as the Grand Entries and the Flag Songs that are a part of every powwow. This year, the Thundering Spirit drum group from the Enoch Cree Nation just outside of Edmonton will be the host drum. The top four drum groups at the competition will also receive cash prizes.
The organizers said the prize amounts for each category are yet to be finalized, but they expect the top prize for the best adult dancer will be about $1,000, and up to $5,000 for the best drum group as those groups have more members.
However, the event is about much more than the competition, said organizers.
“When we talk about competition, sometimes we forget that’s it a spiritual thing, and it’s about healing the community, and our community needs healing,” said Paul-Belcourt.
They said the powwow is done through the direction of community Elders, and according to traditions and protocols that all participants will be expected to respect. One of the protocols is a zero-tolerance policy for drugs and alcohol at the event.
“The bottom line is we’ve always gone forward for the kids – that’s who we are trying to give strength and guidance to is the children in this community,” said Paul-Belcourt on the example they want to set for the young participants.
They added the event is free to attend and everybody is welcome.
“It’s not just an Aboriginal thing. This is for everybody. We have a lot of non-Aboriginal people dance for us,” said Paul-Belcourt.
“We need everybody to be strong, not just the Native people, we need everybody to come – then our circle is complete,” added Belcourt.
Besides great dance and song, the event will also include arts and crafts vendors and concessions.
Grand Entries begin at 7 p.m. on Friday, 1 and 7 p.m. on Saturday, and 1 p.m. on Sunday. For visitors, camping is being provided at the Lakota Field next to the Multiplex. For more information, contact Denise Paul-Belcourt or Evelyn Courtoreille ay 250-782-1169.
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