The newly rebranded Wiikwemkoong Cultural Festival drew record crowds and dancers over the August long weekend, featuring traditional competitions, cultural showcases, crafts, and a large contingent of Canadian Forces recruits.
WIIKWEMKOONG鈥擳he lineup of dancers for this year鈥檚 opening grand entry of the oldest powwow in Eastern Canada, formerly known as the Wikwemikong Powwow, now 鈥渞ebranded鈥 as the Wiikwemkoong Cultural Festival, was setting records even before the final tally of competitors at registration was complete. For some 20 minutes dignitaries, veterans, eagle staff carriers, flag carriers, dancers of every variety (including many Haudenosaunee smoke dancers as cultural exchange) and a troop of some 75 Canadian Forces Grey Wolf Program recruits processed into the dance arena before the opening ceremonies.
The Grey Wolf program is a unique eight-week Canadian Armed Forces Indigenous summer training program held in Meaford, Ontario, that combines traditional Indigenous teachings with Army Reserve Basic Military Qualification. This year saw the largest contingent on record attending the festival. The young, uniformed members could be seen mixing in with the crowds in small groups throughout the weekend.
Wiikwemkoong Ogimaa Tim Ominika welcomed the visitors and local residents to Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory and encouraged them to enjoy the dancers and to visit the many vendors attending the powwow, the oldest in Eastern Ontario often called the 鈥淕randmother of Powwows.鈥
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