Competition powwow aids friendship centre

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Nearly 200 dancers competed in the 28th annual Odawa Competitive Powwow at the Ottawa Municipal Campground from May 28 to 30. They travelled to the nation's capital from across Ontario, and as far away as British Columbia, the Atlantic Provinces and Texas.

Ten drum groups attended from across Ontario and as far away as Nova Scotia and the communities of Waswanipi and Wemostashee in Quebec. Registered drums included Morningstar River from Toronto, Cree Storm from Attawapiskat/Fort Albany, Eastern Eagle from Halifax, the Poplar Singers from North Bay, Snake Island from Sarnia, Eagle Flight from London, and Redstone Ojibway and Bear Creek, both from the Batchewana First Nation.

Emcees Bill Constant from the Pasqua First Nation in Saskatchewan and Jim Johnson from the Scugog Island First Nation in Ontario kept spectators laughing-especially during the Spectator Dance, when non-Native spectators were invited into the dance circle to do their best imitation of powwow dancing, with hilarious results.

Jennifer Neepin, executive director of the Odawa Native Friendship Centre, estimated the weekend's total attendance at 8,000. And that's good news for the centre.

"This is our major fundraiser for the year," Neepin said. "After we pay the costs, we take the net income and put that money into programs and operating expenses."

Neepin, who is originally from the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory near Belleville, has been executive director at the Odawa centre for only two months. But she knows what happened at last year's Odawa Powwow, when a torrential downpour rained out the event on all three days.

"Last year we lost so much money that it hurt our ability to program," Neepin said. "It's good to see the weather co-operating [this year]."

The weather wasn't the only factor in this year's successful event.

"I'm grateful for the community coming out to support our centre," Neepin said. "I'm also really grateful for the support of the volunteers, and for the extra time the staff have put in to make this event work."

The Ottawa business community also played a role in this year's powwow. "We couldn't have done it without the support of local businesses and their in-kind contributions. The generators were donated, the tents and lighting were provided at very low cost, and the food for the dancers and drummers was donated," Neepin said.