Oromocto's all-weekend powwow builds on last year's success
Elders, vendors and smiling faces slowly arrived at the riverside of Oromocto First Nation on Friday afternoon, gearing up for a powwow that will last the full weekend.
After a successful one-day event last year, members of the Oromocto, or Welamoktuk, community decided to made it bigger and better, Chief Shelley Sabattis said.
"We were feeling things out to see how things should be run and what we need to do, what we need to include, how to organize it, so it went really well and we were really proud," Sabattis said.
"We had a lot of dignitaries and the community members were happy to come, the elders. It was just so happy to have a tradition come to life in the community."
She said organizers have done a few things differently this year. Mostly, they've added to the schedule.
Social events, competitions revolving around hand-drumming, braiding and fire-making, as well as washer-toss games and a community sweat are on the list.
There will also be more vendors showcasing their work and feeding hungry participants.
Sabattis said the band has some great things prepared for the grand entry on Saturday afternoon — something many on site were already anticipating.
Community members and even those from surrounding areas, including Base Gagetown and the town of Oromocto, have contributed to putting the event together.
"It's been amazing watching the community members come together and they did everything," Sabattis said.
"They've been working hard, especially the last two weeks, so I'm really proud of them. They've put a lot of hours into it and it's all community labour."
Keeping the heritage alive
Nipahtuwet Naka Wespahtuwet Possesom is a professional dancer who has been teaching traditional dance to schoolchildren of all ages in the Oromocto area.
A number of his 120 students are excited to showcase what they've learned this weekend, and he's simply excited such traditions are being welcomed back into the community.
"It's a beautiful thing to see that the community has new leadership and they've been working really hard to unite their culture," Possesom said.
Possesom, who is from St. Mary's First Nation in Fredericton, has advised the powwow committee and will be master of ceremonies at the event this weekend.
He said the event is important for honouring the lessons of ancestors and keeping them alive.
"It's a part of our lives and it's something we've connected with through our entire lives … so it's a huge thing and if we don't have it, we lose it, and if we don't teach it, we lose it."
Sabattis said she is looking forward to the expression on participants faces this weekend and will relish what the powwow will bring to the First Nations community and Oromocto as a whole.
"Community spirit, for sure … the spirit of unity, bringing our community together and linking us to the other communities that have been celebrating powwows for years and years," she said.
"So, we're now apart of all of that. It's a good feeling."
