Well over 100 people attended the Tsq̓éscen̓ First Nation’s inaugural Strength Through Our Ancestors Pow-wow last Saturday.
Held at the Canim Lake Community Gym, this event marked the first time in almost four years that a pow-wow has been held in the Tsq̓éscen̓ community. Organizer Stephanie Archie, a member of the Tsq̓éscen̓ First Nation who lives in Merritt, said she ran the pow-wow after her son Benoit Abraham asked her to.
“It was pretty much my son’s dream to host a pow-wow here so I talked to my sister, Sheryl Archie, and we just started handing out letters,” Archie said. “I think he just wanted to showcase First Nations song and dance and also recognize National Addictions Awareness Week (Nov. 22-28). He’s 14 and has never seen alcohol or drugs in his home.”
Archie said she and Sheryl started organizing the pow-wow in mid-October and chose to use the community gym rather than the arbor due to the weather. Inviting all the dancers and getting everything together was a bit stressful but a challenge that was worth it in the end.
The pow-wow kicked off on Saturday at 1 p.m. with a grand entry of all the dancers, young and old. All told well over 30 dancers performed including blanket dancers, jingle dancers, grass dancers and traditional dancers. Archie said in addition to locals, people travelled from Kamloops, Prince George and Williams Lake to take part.
“I’ve hosted pow-wows before in Merritt so it actually feels pretty good to see this same kind of support in Merritt come to Canim Lake,” Archie said.
Benoit welcomed everyone to the pow-wow and listed his family lineage and heritage. He said that his family invited everyone to the pow-wow to “showcase the power of our people.”
Kukpi7 Helen Henderson, the Tsq̓éscen̓ First Nation’s chief, welcomed the community initiative taken by Archie.
“It’s certainly welcome in a time where healing is needed after the discovery of the 215 (in Kamloops). That definitely impacted all of us here,” Henderson said. “When we come together in culture, in song and listening to the drum beat, it brings with it healing. Events like this help our members to heal.”
Coming together, be it in times of sorrow or celebration, is an important part of their identity as Tsq’esenemc people. Henderson said it was heartwarming to see so many young people, like Benoit, taking part in the pow-wow.
“The children represent who we are and where we’re going. Seeing their excited faces, showcasing their skills, talent, culture and pride in who they are is pretty exciting,” Henderson said. “As members of the Secwépemc Nation, we’re teachers and learners. It’s our responsibility to pass on that knowledge to the younger generations, so it’s exciting to see when they pick up those teachers and showcase them.”
Henderson said she is hopeful the Canim Lake Traditional Pow-wow will be able to make a return in 2024. Due to a combination of the COVID-19 pandemic shutting down large gatherings and wildfire smoke making a summer date unsuitable, the community has been unable to plan an event for several years. An exact date is still being decided upon, she said.
Archie said she and her family plan to make this pow-wow an annual event for the community. They’ll continue to host it in November as a way to both recognize National Addiction Awareness Week and honour the strength of their community’s ancestors.
“Oftentimes when we say prayers, it’s praying to our ancestors and to the Creator. That’s why we came up with the name of the pow-wow, we want to recognize the strength we get from our ancestors,” Archie said. “The history of Tsq̓éscen̓ First Nation is pretty big. In my own matriarch family, I have past chiefs and councillors, so I think it’s important to recognize our ancestors and those who have passed on.”
