Six Nations drums beat regardless of weather

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Rain may have dampened the dancers feet but not their spirits, as Six Nations of the Grand River hosted their 24th annual Grand River Powwow on July 26 and 27.

Alan Emarthle, manager of Six Nations Tourism, estimated the crowd at 16,000.

Saturday was hit with rain, but Sunday turned into a hot and humid day with lots of sunshine.

There was a wide array of menu items to choose from with fifty food vendors on the site. The public could purchase a moose or elk burger to go with their corn soup or Indian taco. There were fruit smoothies and soft ice cream on sale for the sweet tooths.

For those with shopping lists, there was no shortage of gifts to purchase at more than one hundred arts and crafts booths. Artist Arnold Jacobs, wampum beader Ken Maracle and leather designer Eva Williams were among the vendors.

Flute music could be heard coming from the booth of David R. Maracle from Tyendinaga. And for the literary palette, Jeff Burnham from Goodminds.com was set up with his educational resources. Featured authors Bonita Lawrence, Richard Greene and Barbara-Helen Hill were all on hand to sign books.

Approximately 50 drummers and 450 dancers travelled to the powwow from all over Canada and the United States. The powwow is the largest in Ontario and one of the 50 largest events in the province, according to Evelyn Bomberry, powwow chairperson.

Lisa Odjig from Wikwemikong placed first in the Women's Fancy Dance category. Melody White from Winnipeg, Man. placed first in the Women's Jingle Dress dance. Lynn Smoke from Peterborough placed first in the Women's Traditional. Sharon Roberts from Ada, Okla. placed first in the Women's Golden Age.

Nigel Schugler from Deerborn Heights, Mich. placed first in the Men's Fancy Dance category. Darryl Bolton from Calgary, Alta. placed first in the Men's Grass Dance category. Jordan Williams White Eye from Walpole Island placed first in the Men's Traditional. Royce Kingbird from Red Lake, Minn. placed first in the Men's Golden Age. The Jinglettes (Melodie White, Challis Beetso, Neebing Whiteye and Amanda Awonohopay) placed first in the Team Dance.

The Smoke Dance competition was a definite crowd pleaser.

This dance originated among the Haudenosaunee people and is now performed at many powwows throughout Indian country. Lyle Anderson from Six Nations was the singer for the smoke dance. Samantha Moses, Onondaga from Salamanca, N.Y. placed first in the Women's Smoke Dance category and Ruben Rivera, a Mohawk from Cattaragus, N.Y. placed first in the Men's Smoke Dance.

Powwow organizers have much more in store for next year's silver anniversary event. A Friday night entertainment program and fireworks are just two of the new events that they have mentioned they will be having at the 25th Grand River Powwow.