Haudenosaunee smoke dance display gives Upper Canada Village visitors pumpkin to talk about

One of the most popular Haudenosaunee social dances — the smoke dance — is brought to life with gourd-geous sculptures made of more than 100 intricately carved jack-o'-lanterns at Upper Canada Village.

It's part of the newest display at Pumpkinferno, an annual outdoor exhibit at Upper Canada Village in Morrisburg, Ont., about 60 kilometres southeast of Ottawa, featuring elaborate hand-carved and illuminated pumpkins.

"We're a very proud community and we love to share our Mohawk spirit with others," said Randi Barreiro, who is from Akwesasne, a Kanien'kehá:ka (Mohawk) community on the Ontario, Quebec, and New York state borders.

Barreiro, a marketing specialist at Akwesasne Travel, the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe's tourism agency, said the collaboration on the exhibit is a way to connect Akwesasne with its neighbours, and for the many visitors who attend to learn something new about Kanien'kehá:ka culture.

The display features around 100 artificial pumpkins carved into sculptures of smoke dancers and a water drummer adorned in traditional regalia.

The Haudenosaunee Confederacy includes the Kanien'kehá:ka, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca and Tuscarora nations. The smoke dance is a Haudenosaunee social dance known for its lightning-fast footwork, artistic flair, and athleticism. Unlike ceremonial dances, which aren't meant for the public, social dances are intended for the enjoyment of all people and are often showcased at powwows.

The display is a collaboration between Upper Canada Village in Morrisburg, Ont. and Akwesasne Travel. (Ka’nhehsí:io Deer/CBC)

The origins of the dance differ depending on who is asked.

Some consider it a derivative of the war dance and that it was designed to showcase men's skill and stamina, while others say the fast spinning in small circles is believed to mimic curls of smoke. For Barreiro, the display encapsulates many important cultural aspects.

"When people see that, they're not just seeing this cool piece of art. It's really representing our dancers, our singers, the smoke dance," she said.

"It also is a perfect way to highlight our artists, our designers, traditional clothing makers, people who craft rattles and horns and the singing that goes along with it."

Ongoing collaboration

This marks the second year that Upper Canada Village has collaborated with Akwesasne Travel. Last year's display, which is still a part of the event, featured the legend of the hoof lady.

In 2016, the event worked with the Native North American Traveling College and artist Victoria Ransom to produce a series of pumpkin carvings around the theme Legends from our Land which are now on display at the Kingston Penitentiary Pumpkinferno in Kingston, Ont.

This exhibit, the legend of the flying head, was part of Upper Canada Village's collaboration with the Native North American Traveling College and artist Victoria Ransom. (Submitted by Upper Canada Village)

Carli Smelko, special events officer at the St. Lawrence Parks Commission, which manages Upper Canada Village, said it's not just about creating display themes that are spooky for Halloween, but something that is educational, meaningful and culturally diverse.

"We've been trying to make steps towards improving representation and inclusion," said Smelko.

"I think it's a great learning opportunity for visitors and even staff. I learned so much being part of a team to create this theme."

Showing 'our culture'

Traditional smoke dance songs by Ranenrihiostha Herne and Sequoia Hill of the Native North American Traveling College's Travel Troupe can be heard on a speaker throughout the display.

"I think it's really cool to to see our culture being shown," said Hill, who is a member of Tonawanda Seneca Nation, N.Y., and works at the travelling college as a culture educator.

Each dancer is made up of around 40 carved and lit artificial pumpkins to bring the smoke dancing theme to life. (Ka’nhehsí:io Deer/CBC)

Hill said seeing the display made him feel proud to see Haudenosaunee involved in the event, and recognized through song and dance.

"It's an awesome way for our people to show their style of dance," he said.

"Dancing is a form of medicine for our people."