Family fun ahead

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If you are looking for great food and live entertainment, you will be sure to find it at the 17th annual Tyendinaga Mohawk Powwow that will be held Aug. 14 and 15.

As one of the largest traditional gatherings in Ontario, the festivities will feature traditional music and dancing and a craft fair.

The theme for this year, Honouring Our Men, pays tribute to community members' hard work and dedication in organizing this event.

Ruby Maracle, one of the powwow co-ordinators, said a special theme is chosen each and every year as a way to honour people in the community.

A tobacco ceremony is also held to mark the sacredness of the occasion.

"They have a ceremony where they give them (fire keepers) tobacco and ask them to keep the fire. Stuff like that," said Maracle.

Visitors, which usually number in the thousands, can look forward to enjoying traditional foods such as bannock and Indian tacos while watching performances by hoop dancers and the Ontario Provincial Police drummers, who are newcomers to the event. Naturally, the Mohawk people will have their own unique style of drums.

In previous years, performers and visitors to Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory have come from as far as the southern United States, England and even from Germany.

Maracle said she hopes the Aztec dancers who dazzled audiences last year will again come and share their talents She added that camping is available on the powwow grounds where an evening social will be held so guests can sing and dance the night away.

Aside from the chance to see old friends, the powwow can sometimes provide people with an opportunity to make love connections.

Maracle said one powwow organizer got engaged during the event when her husband proposed two years ago.

Gates open at 10 a.m. Admission for adults is $6 a day, $3 for seniors and students and it is free for children under the age of 12 years.

For more information, go online at www.tyendinaga.net/powwow/.