Powwow as a top tourist draw in Ontario

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Visitors to the annual Wikwemikong Powwow on Manitoulin Island have always witnessed the best First Nations have to offer in competitive dancing. The annual event held August 2 to 4 this year provided all of the celebration's traditional excitement and more.

The Wikwemikong Heritage Organization (WHO) has been working to ensure that the event retains its goal of cross-cultural awareness.

As always, traditional, grass, jingle dress and fancy dancers competed for more than $50,000 in prizes while participants enjoyed three days of dancing, visiting, shopping and feasting.

While this was going on, the WHO made a concentrated effort to emphasize cultural protocols and to educate spectators about First Nations values and art forms.

"The main focus is to adhere to the integrity and the authenticity of First Nations cultural expression," said artistic director Karen Pheasant. "In the past, there has been a certain amount of deviation from original cultural principles."

She advocates recognition and appreciation of powwow song and dance performance as a distinct art form.

The gathering provided a showcase for tribes to share their knowledge through workshops and demonstrations.

Last year, organizers invited smoke dancers from the East to perform.

This year, they looked West and included practitioners of the original prairie chicken dance in the program. This dance artistry originates with the Blackfoot Nation of southern Alberta.

Pheasant, an instructor of Indigenous performing arts in Banff, has brought her artistic vision back to her home community. After many years on the powwow trail serving as head woman dancer, arena director and head judge, she hopes to promote a greater understanding of Native culture. "Authenticity is the bottom line."

The Canada Council for the Arts is supporting WHO in its objective of enriching First Nation culture and building pride among Aboriginal communities.