This weekend marked the 28th annual Barrie Native Friendship Centre’s Pow Wow and the cultural celebration took place in Springwater National Park.
Many pow wows take place over the calendar year in Ontario with this one being one of the biggest. A large group Ojibway of nation people in the area keep the event running, but it is also a place for many other First Nations to come together.
Shaun Martin is originally from Saskatchewan but now lives in Kitchener and says that he came to see the local event as he had not been to the Barrie Pow Wow before.
“This is my first time here and it looks like it will be a big one,” said Martin. I came with my group, the Sky River Singers, and we hope to entertain the people here today.”
While the event is known to have great vendors and entertainment for those strolling the park to see what it is all about, Martin says it runs a little deeper for him.
“This is my church,” said Martin. “I do a lot of my praying out here as it’s a lot better than sitting in a building all day. I also hope people not necessarily of a First Nations background come out too. It’s a good time to start learning more and having an understanding of the people who have this as part of their culture.”
A main part of the weekend are the many striking regalia worn by those in attendance.
Patricia Watts and Snapping Turtle are two in attendance this weekend who feel the outfits may attract people to come out and take pics, but hopefully they stick around and learn more about a culture that is dear to many in the Simcoe County area.
“It is so important because the knowledge of our ways and our teachings needs to get out there,” said Watts. “There have been so many lies and untruths that have been said about our culture that it just really needs to get out there. Its also a beautiful time to just come out and dance; if you hear that drum and feel like you want to dance, my goodness just get up there and dance.”
Snapping Turtle says that while Watts’ dance and dress is of a healing nature, his is for the men as they are the warriors for the women and children. Considered one of the Fire-Keepers, Snapping Turtle says it up to him and those like him to protect those around him.
“We are the warriors, the protectors of the women and children and we dance to show our support of them,” said Snapping Turtle. “We also dance for those who are lost right now with drugs and alcohol. We dance so that they can get better and when they are, they will come to us and dance for the betterment of our future.”
A media release from Barrie Native Friendship Centre follows:
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Josy Thomas carves out a wolf pup exploring a log during the Barrie Native Friendship Centre pow wow at Springwater Provincial Park on Saturday. Photo providedSurrounded by trees and pow wow goers, Springwater Provincial Park Resident artist, Josy Thomas, started his first carving for the Dodem Project Saturday at the Barrie Native Friendship Centre Pow wow. When done, this carving of a wolf pup exploring a log will become a permanent fixture on the children's exploration trail.
For years, the park was home to dozens of local wildlife exhibits but budget cuts and changing ideas about live animal exhibits, prompted the provincial government to close down the live animal displays. The Dodem Project was conceived by Park manager, Jeff Monague, artist, Josy Thomas and Suzy Kies, Vision Quest lead at the Georgian Bay Native Friendship Centre, to provide similar learning opportunities to patrons without resorting too live animal exhibits.
Josy Thomas, selected logs from the Park to turn into his rendition of the 13 Clan Animals on Friday and started carving this afternoon after Grand Entry. The sound of the pow wow drums resounding is a fitting background, for artist Josy Thomas, as he carves the first of three, to be donated to the park once completed.
On June 7, Josy received word that he was awarded a generous grant of $15 000.00 from the Ontario Arts Council to put towards the Dodem project.
He wasted no time, within hours, he coordinated with the Barrie Native Friendship Centre Community Cultural Resource Coordinator, Trudy Monague, to prepare a space for the project launch to coincide with the pow wow. As you leave the circle of the pow wow drum and walk towards the park office, you can just hear the sound of the chainsaw as Josy Thomas, deftly carves out the rough shape of the first sculpture.
It is fitting that the logs being used for these carvings were selected from the remains of trees that have stood in the park for decades.
In keeping with traditional values, Josy is only using "found wood" for his carvings. The selection of the trees, alone, took several hours as Josy searched the grounds for the right tree trunks and stumps for his work. He remarks that the trees themselves tell him what they want to be and he simply helps the carvings emerge.
Watching him carve, it is easy to understand, with confidence and speed, he slices away large chunks of wood. Even with only a few hours of work, you can already see the silhouette of the wolf pup standing on a branch emerging from the log.
By day's end on the last day of the pow wow, the sculpture will be mostly finished, needing only minor touches and several coats of varnish to protect it from the elements.
Standing behind the wolf, the second carving of a mother bear and her cub, wait their turn to be revealed to the world by Josy Thomas's chains saw.
Whether you come to the park to walk the trails, attend the pow wow or whether you come to watch the artist at work, Springwater Park is definitely the place to be this weekend. The air is abuzz with activity and the pow wow atmosphere brings a whole new dimension to a day in the park. Definitely a must see.
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