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Welcome to the 2017 Rama Powwow Welcome From Chief Rodney Noganosh Weekend Schedule Welcome from Rama’s Emergency Service Teams A Look Back at Rama Powwow 2016 Rama and Area Information Another Look Back at Rama Powwow 2016 Chi Miigwech To Our 2017 Sponsors 2017 Rama Powwow Contest Prizeboard
Program Information Chippewas of Rama First Nation Culture and Research Department 5884 Rama Road, Suite 200, Rama, ON L3V 6H6 Telephone: (705) 325-3611 Sherry Lawson, Administrator of Heritage Services Vicki Snache, Cultural Liaison Ben Cousineau, Archivist / Researcher Arnold Ingersoll, Cultural Assistant www.ramafirstnation.ca www.facebook.com/ramapowwow rama powwow held at john snake memorial multipurpose grounds 6030 rama road, rama on l3v6h6
Welcome to the 2017 Chippewas of Rama First Nation Powwow!
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Aaniin, boozhoo, sago, greetings: All our weeks of planning pay off now – It’s Powwow time! Our volunteers work hard to ensure all our visitors have the best possible experience: from hauling ice, to making gravy, from registering singers, to working the main gate, from visiting sponsors, to tabulating scores, our volunteers are the best. Chi-miigwech to all of you. To the outside world, things appear seamless. A special thank you to specific staff members this year: Ben Cousineau, Arnold Ingersoll, Anne Harrigan and Vicki Snache. Your commitment and problem-solving has been noticed. Special core committee volunteers deserve mention; those willing to set out garbage pails, welcome VIPs, and loan their own personal vehicles include James Simcoe, Dan Monague, Darrel York and Willy St. Germaine. Finance staff can always be counted on to register dancers, look after both gates, write out receipts, and make sure our numbers add up. We continue to sing the praises of Chief and Council, who this year made sure we have a beautiful new stage area. They also, as usual, serve breakfast Sunday morning. Miigwech for supporting our work. Facilities staff deserve our huge thanks. For those who put up fencing, lug tables and cut grass, we salute you. Our sponsors and other donors continue to step up year after year when called upon: thank you Mariposa Market, Friends Diner, Leon’s Furniture and Sunshine 89.1, to name just a few, for all your support. Since before written history, this community has welcomed visitors of all colours. This year is no different. Our kindness and generosity continues to shine through. This weekend, tiny tots will delight us, old songs will be sung to remind us of who we are as Anishinaabe people. Ah-how! It’s Powwow time! Sherry Lawson
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Welcome from Chief Noganosh
Weekend Schedule* Saturday August 19th 2017 12:00 1:00 2:00 TBD
4:00 5:00 6:30
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Sunrise Ceremony at the Powwow Grounds at the Teepee Roll Call Grand Entry Inter-Tribal (Round 1 Drum Contest) Tiny Tots Specials: Team Dance, Hand Drum, Hoop Dance Listen to emcees for times of specials
Contest Dances Inter-Tribal 2 Hand Drum Contest Supper Break (guests, use this time to visit vendors!) Grand Entry Intertribals Contest Dances
Sunday August 20th 2017 12:00 12:30 2:00
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Roll Call Drum Contest Grand Entry Inter-Tribal Tiny Tots Exhibition Dancing Specials and Hoop Dance Exhibition! Announcement of Winning Singers and Dancers Giveaway Retiring of Flags
*Please note, the only firm times are the times for Grand Entry. Other times and order of events are subject to change. Listen to the MC’s as things unfold.
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Welcome from Our Emergency Services Teams On behalf of the men and women of the Rama Police Service, I am pleased to extend this welcome to you while joining us for the 2017 Annual Powwow. Our officers patrol the community on a 24/7 basis and are here to ensure everyone’s safety and security. If you require an officer, call 1-888-310-1122 or dial 9-1-1 in an emergency. John C. Domm, M.O.M., BAA, MA, CMMIII Chief of Police Rama Police Service On behalf of the members of the Rama Fire & Rescue Services, I am pleased to welcome you and your families to the 2017 Chippewas of Rama First Nation Powow. Rama Fire & Rescue Services provides full-time 24 hour fire and emergency coverage to members of Rama and our guests. Please don’t hesitate to drop by our fire hall at 7454 Williams Road and one of our firefighters will take you on a tour of our facilities. We hope you have a safe time as you enjoy our annual powwow. Michael French Fire Chief/CEMC, CMM III, CFEI, CFII Fire Suppression Professional Fire Prevention Professional Emergency Management Professional Aaniin and Welcome to the Rama First Nation 2017 Annual Powwow. Rama Paramedic Services are happy to keep you safe while you enjoy Rama’s 32nd Powwow. We are proud to have one of the highest skill sets for Primary Care Paramedics in Ontario to assist in providing the highest level of prehospital care for our community and visitors. Our Paramedics service the community on a 24 hour 7 day a week basis as well as we do some routine home visits to check on our community members that are in need. We are always here to lend a hand to our community and its visitors. If you have a medical emergency please dial 9-1-1 and ask for an ambulance. Please enjoy the Powwow safely and feel free to visit our first aid booth should you need anything. Just look for our ambulance. Carrie Hassberger Chief of Paramedic Services Rama Paramedic Services
a look back at rama powwow 2016
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Photos by cindy rossit photography
2016 was Rama Powwow’s first year at the new home of the Rama Powwow: The John Snake Memorial Multi-Purpose Grounds. We are so proud of our new location. Enjoy these photos commemorating the first year at the new grounds! Chi Miigwech for joining us last year and we hope you join us for many more years to come!
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powwow etiquette Powwow is a celebration of First Nations culture. It is a time for singers, dancers, and family to re-connect with old friends and make new ones too. We invite you to join in on this tradition! As the powwow is a cultural event, there are some rules of etiquette. We ask that our guests observe the following customs. This is a celebration of life. All customs revolve around the four powwow virtues:
honour, respect, generosity, and kindness Please stand (if you are able) during Grand Entry, Honour Songs, and prayers. Grand Entry is a time when our flags and Eagle Staffs are on display, carried proudly by leaders and veterans. This is a time to show honour and respect. The emcees will indicate when to stand and when to sit down. Dancer’s regalia is beautiful. Please remember that the regalia is sacred and often includes symbols and meanings that are important to the dancer. Ask before touching or taking photographs; many dancers are happy to oblige. The dance arena is the grassy circle which surrounds the center pole. This area is not meant for play or to be used as a shortcut to cross the grounds. It is a sacred area during powwow. Please respect this area. You are welcome to dance during “Intertribals” - listen to the emcees to find out when this is. Drums are sacred and special articles. Please don’t touch the drums or drumsticks. You are allowed to visit the “drum pit”, but please respect the singers and their space. Photography is allowed, but there are times that it is not. Listen to the emcees for these times; they will clearly indicate when photography is not allowed. If you have any questions please ask a powwow volunteer. Miigwech (thank you) and have a great weekend!
another look back at rama powwow 2016
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chi miigwech to our
Cornucopia Catering Spirithands Photography
2017 Sponsors!
Dee’s Smoke Shack
contest prizeboard
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here is what’s on the line! The Rama Powwow is a competition powwow. Dancers of all genders and
age groups compete against each other in their respective categories. The dancers and singers are judged and points are tabulated throughout the weekend. The winners of the singing and dancing contests are announced on Sunday afternoon. The prize board below shows exactly what the dancers are competing for.
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chi miigwech to our early returning sponsors!