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This weekend, please practise the “Four Powwow Virtues” Kindness - Gwanaajayaawi Honour - Mnaadenmaan Respect - Mnaadendwin Generosity - Gzhaadzi Gchi miigwech to the Chippewas of Rama First Nation owned businesses for your continued support!
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Table of Contents Remarks from the Powwow Chair Powwow Weekend Schedule Message from Chief and Council Messages from Rama Police, Rama Fire, and Rama EMS Powwow Photos This Year’s Generous Sponsors Head Staff and Invited Guest Profiles Theme: Honouring Our Traditional Teachers Powwow Guest Survey Back cover, male dancer from 2013
Program Information Created by the Rama First Nation Culture and Research Department Mailing Address: 5884 Rama Road, Suite 200, Rama, ON L3V 6H6 Telephone: (705) 325-3611 Sherry Lawson, Administrator of Heritage Services ext. 1212 Ben Cousineau, Audio/Visual Support, Research ext. 1288 Raven Noganosh, Powwow Coordinator ext. 1511 www.ramafirstnation.ca
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The Rama First Nation Powwow 101 Guides is available for sale over the weekend. Pick yours up for $5 today!
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Facilities staff deserve an annual standing ovation: from those who put up and tear down the fencing, to the guys who build the stage to the electrician to ensures we have night lighting, a huge thank you. We wish to acknowledge our sponsors and donors who gave us donations, goods, and gift certificates. We couldn’t have done it without you. This year we will welcome thousands of guests from the Four Directions, as we as a community have done for thousands of years. We will meet new friends and greet old ones. We will truly celebrate our theme this year, “Honouring our Traditional Ahniin, boozhoo, sago, greetings: Teachers”. Our language keepers, our storytellers, conductors of ceremony, hand-drum singers and Many hours of planning have gone into the 2014 historians, miigwech for all you do to keep our Chippewas of Rama Powwow. Volunteers, including culture a living, breathing entity. Our community a core group who often have to make quick lost some very important people this year, decisions, have spent their personal time to ensure including veteran Fred Smith, Elder Sue Anderson, this annual event runs smoothly. There are so many and teacher John Snake. We will offer a prayer of jobs that are done by our volunteers with no thanks and dance for them this weekend, to honour fanfare: picking up garbage, hauling firewood, them for all they taught us. cutting up watermelon for seniors, cutting up cheese, registering dancers, organizing giveaway When the singers begin to play that big drum gifts and welcoming VIPs, to name a few. A huge during Grand Entry and later when we see our chi-miigwech to each and every volunteer. youngest dancers under age 5 just “giving it” during the Tiny Tots dancer catergory, we know Special thanks go out to specific staff who went we have done a good thing. above and beyond this year: Ben Cousineau and Powwow Co-ordinator Raven Noganosh. Miigwech for helping us celebrate our beautiful Anishinaabe culture. Stellar volunteers always willing to don a tool- belt, pick-up donations or man a booth include James Inter-tribal, everybody dance, Ah-how! Simcoe, Dan Monague, Anne Harrigan and Nora Sawyer. Assistant Band Manager Evelyn Ball Sherry Lawson continues to support the work of the powwow committee in so many ways. Band Manager Dan Sherry Lawson Shilling takes personal time to work a shift every Chippewas of Rama First Nation year at the gate. Chief and Council continue to Administrator of Heritage Services. offer loads of support. We are so grateful to each and every one of our dozens of helpers.
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Weekend Schedule* Saturday August 23, 2014 6:30AM 12:30PM 1:00
5:00 7:00
Sunrise Ceremony at the Powwow Grounds at the Teepee Roll Call Drum Contest Grand Entry Inter-Tribal (Round 1 Drum Contest) Tiny Tots Contest Special Community Presentation Exhibition (Round 1 Dance Contest - Adults) Contest (Round 1 Junior/Teen/Golden Age) (Drum Contest 2) Inter-Tribal 2 Supper Break Grand Entry Inter-Tribal Adult Categories (Round 2 Dance Contest) Team Dance Special
Sunday August 24, 2014 12:00 12:30
4:00
Roll Call Drum Contest Grand Entry Inter-Tribal Tiny Tots Exhibition Dancing Snake Dance (Special) Announcement of Winning Singers and Dancers Giveaway Retiring of Flags
*Please note, the only firm times are Grand Entry and supper break. All other scheduled dances and special events are not able to be given a confirmed time but will proceed in the above scheduled order.
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Chippewas of Rama First Nation Chief and Council, 2012-2014
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A Message from Rama First Nation’s Excellent Police, EMS, and Fire Services 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 2014 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 7450 Williams Road Rama, ON L3V 6H6
On behalf of the members of the Rama Fire & Rescue Services, I am pleased to welcome you and your families to the 2014 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 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 2014 Annual Powwow. The world class Paramedics of Rama Emergency Service wish to ensure you that while attending this year’s festivities you will be in good hands. Rama EMS is proud to have one of the highest skill sets for Primary Care Paramedics in Ontario to assist in providing the highest level of pre-hospital care for our community and visitors. Our Paramedics service the community on a 24 hour 7 days a week basis and are always here to lend a hand. 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 booth. Sean Little, Chief of EMS Rama Emergency Medical Service 7450 Williams Road Rama, ON L3V 6H6
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Miigwech to our major returning sponsor:
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Gchi-Miigwech to all of our 2014 Sponsors! Our early returning sponsors:
Sam Battalia and Sons Limited More of our generous sponsors... The Chippewas of Rama First Nation Finance Department
Ted Williams
Even more generous friends... The Bartleman Family Clarke’s Diesel Giant Tiger Manticore Books The Rad Shop
Beverly Tire and Auto Cornucopia Catering Hyland Ice Native Reflections Ben Snache
Tammie’s Place
Tops in Pizza
Rama First Nation Councillors who donated towards this year’s powwow include... Councillor Gina Genno Councillor Ron Douglas Councillor Tracey Snache Chief Sharon Stinson Henry
“Chippy” Fawn Duckworth’s Fish & Chips Madison County Food and Beverage Co. Nora Sawyer Robert Snache; Spirithands Photography
Councillor Rodney Noganosh Councillor Nemke Quarrington
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Head Staff and Invited Guests Guest Drum Otonabee Juniors of Ontario In 1981, the Otonabee Singers were revived by a group of friends in Peterborough, some of which were
students at Trent University. These singers included John Snake Sr.(lead), Mark Lavallee, Chris Pheasant, Bruce Smoke, Bruce Butler, Dexter Blackbird, Dwayne Manitowabi, Jamie Simcoe, Jeff McDonald, Lance White, Pat Redmond and Allan Manitowabi. The Otonabee Singers were unique at the time as they developed their own style and sound unlike most other singing groups around Ontario. The group was very fortunate to have teachers like Ben Bearskin Sr., Eddie Benton-Banai, Ben Bearskin Jr., Arthur (Butch) Elliott, Art Solomon and Lance White. These teachers were influential in providing the group with the proper drum etiquette and protocol that is associated with the Powwow (Helushka) Society. They were also instrumental in supplying the group with appropriate songs which in turn enabled the Otonabee Singers to have a new set of songs every year. The group only sang those songs which were either made by the group, given to the group or traded with other drum groups, which was in accordance with appropriate drum etiquette. In the late eighties and early nineties, Otonabee went through a transition where the sons of John Snake and Mark Lavallee began to really flourish around the drum. These boys (Meegwans Snake, Matthew Lavallee, Tyler Lavallee & Aaron Lavallee) started to come into their own which positively altered the sound of Otonabee. Eventually, the Otonabee name and group were retired in the early nineties as everyone went on with their separate ways and lives. This was not the end of Otonabee as much as the beginning of new groups that resulted from the Otonabee Singers. Some drum groups that are a result of Otonabee’s legacy are Snake Island, Rice Lake, Smoke Trail, Chippewa Travellers, Nawash Jrs., NWD, Snake Island Jrs., Iron Bear, to name just a few. The Otonabee Singers are honoured to have had such a long history in the Great Lakes Powwow society and to have had so many positive influences in their lives which in turn has affected a great many singers, dancers and families in a good way. This year, 2014, the Otonabee Jr’s have assembled at the Rama Pow Wow organized by Lead Singer Meegwans Snake, son of the late John Snake. The Otonabee Jr’s have come together to pay special honour to the late John Snake and sing the songs of the original Otonabee Singers. Joining Meegwans are the many children and relations of the Otonabee Singers, including sister Hallie Snake. They come from all over Ontario. The Chippewas of Rama extends a warm welcome and thanks all of the Otonabee Jr’s for coming to Rama as we honour our departed brother John Snake.
Head Staff
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Master of Ceremonies Vince Beyl of Bemidji, Minnesota, is an enrolled member of the White Earth Nation Ojibway Tribe of Minnesota and is currently the Director of Indian Education in the Bemidji Public Schools. He is a United States Marine Corps veteran who served in Vietnam from 1970-71. He was a member of the Red Earth Singers from Tama, Iowa, who was a champion singing drum group in the 70s and early 80s, and travelled all over the United States and Canada. Before picking up the mike and announcing, he was a traditional dancer and competed and travelled to many champion powwows throughout the US and Canada. As an educator he has had the great honour and privilege to work with American Indians of all ages in promoting educational opportunities, personal enhancement, and spiritual growth among Native students. His strong beliefs of perpetuating individual success, nurturing spiritual values, encouraging tribal advancement and promoting positive change among Indian people have been a consistent message in Native communities and at powwows throughout North America for many years. “I would like to thank the Rama First Nation Powwow Committee for inviting me to be one of your announcers for this year’s celebration along with the rest of your head staff. We all are looking forward to enjoying ourselves and having a great time at your celebration. Mii Gwitch!!!!!!!!”
Master of Ceremonies Allan J. Manitowabi of Beausoleil First Nation (Bear Clan) Allan comes to us originally from Wikwemikong First Nation, Manitoulin Island. Presently, he is living with his family on beautiful Christian Island (Beausoleil First Nation) where he is married, has two children and five grand-children. He has served his community in various capacities in Culture, Recreation, Health and is the currently Fire Chief. His outstanding career in the field of Fire & Emergency services is evident in that he has over 30 years as a volunteer and is a real advocate in fire prevention and education for First Nations and the Ontario region. He has received many awards and commendations including a Lifetime Achievement Award. Allan has travelled across Turtle Island and is known by many on the powwow trail. Allan has been on the powwow trail for over 49 years as an Emcee, Singer, Fancy Dancer, and Arena Director. He shares many stories of song and dance, and brings a wealth of knowledge, respect and honour to our powwow celebration.
Head Staff
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Arena Director
Amos Key Jr of Six Nations carries the Spiritual name of Taehowenhs and is a Gayogohono’, a member of the Mohawk Nation of Six Nations at Grand River, Brantford, Ontario. He was born into the Turtle Clan of his mother. Born in the USA, in nearby New York state, he was raised at his ancestral home at Grand River, where he was educated and lived among the languages of his parents, Amos Sr., and Reta, who spoke four of the Six Nation languages plus English. Amos was steeped in his Longhouse Spiritual Tradition and was elevated to the level of ‘Faith Keeper’ for his people. For decades he was given a formal education from the wisdom of his eloquent Elders, Parents, Uncles, Grandparents and five siblings and was groomed to be a staunch defender and advocate for his Onkwehonweh people. Amos’ career was varied: the London Board of Education teaching Guidance and Native Studies to Aanishinaabeg and Onkwehonweh students, Head of the First Nations Language Department at the Woodland Museum and Cultural Centre in Brantford. He recently celebrated his 30th anniversary at Woodland with an appointment as Executive Director. While at Woodland for these past 30 years, Amos is an advocate and champion for First Nations Linguistic and Human Rights. Amos promotes the attributes and virtues of First Nations Bilingualism and the intellect of the three Original civilizations of Ontario. In his home community, Amos led the development of: a community radio station, Grand River’s Champion of Champions Pow wow, Gawenni:yo Immersion/Bilingual School Board, Ontario’s First synchronous E learning Secondary School and a Language Commission. Amos spends many volunteer hours on many local, regional and provincial Boards and Foundations including, the Ontario Trillium Foundation. Balancing his professional and volunteer career are his spiritual and artistic virtues and intelligences providing the energy for a healthy ‘artistic alter ego’…. wherein he sings, dances and plays. For the past 40 years, he could be found leading the Mens Traditional Dance tradition at powwows around the Great Lakes. Now Amos dances in the new Mens Golden Age category when time allows. Today, many communities seek his knowledge, leadership and advice in the Pow wow Traditions and often invite him to work with them at their annual celebrations as a Head Judge or Arena Director. His working motto is simple: “We all need to help and become the architects of our destiny in our communities and for our first peoples by leading, by following or, by simply getting out of the way to let the others through…”
Singing Judge
Gary Parker of the Tonawanda Reservation. Sge:noh, my name is Gary Parker and I am Onan’dowa’ga (Seneca) from the Tonawanda Seneca Territory in New York State. The Seneca Nation is part of the Six Nations Confederacy, also known as the Iroquois Confederacy or Haudenosaunee People (People of the Longhouse). I have been singing in the Longhouse since my early childhood but have also been singing at powwows since my early teens. I have had the opportunity to sing with many different Drum groups throughout the years as well as I have travelled extensively throughout Turtle Island (North America) singing at powwow celebrations as well as Round Dances. I am currently working with First Nations youth providing traditional teachings as well as providing culturally based educational services to the mainstream. It is a great honour to be asked to work with the Rama Community and serve as the Head Drum Judge for this year’s celebration. Nyaweh/ Thank you.
Head Staff Dance Judge
Wesley Cleland of Pontiac, Michigan “Boozhoo, it is an honour to be serving as your head dance judge this weekend. My family and I have been travelling across Indian Country dancing for as long as I can remember. I have danced traditional and grass but for the past 20 plus years I have danced the men’s fancy style. I dance at powwows to be around friends and family but also to meet new friends. My goal this weekend it to do my best to provide everyone with a fair and honest competition. So enjoy and jam out!”
Neybuakaat, “Elder”
Chris Pheasant of the Wikwemikong Unceded Indian Reserve located on Manitoulin Island. A proud graduate of Laurentian University with a degree in Native Studies and his B.Ed. from Queens University, Chris worked as a guidance counsellor, teacher, and vice principal at Wasse Wikwemikong Abin High School for 14 year. Now retired, Chris enjoys promoting the Anishinaabe language, culture, and traditions. Chris has been a part of the powwow family for 35 years as a singer, dancer, coordinator, arena director, and more recently as a master of ceremonies. He has had the opportunity to sing with many singing groups including the Otonabee Singers, Wikwemikong Drum Committee, Snake Island, and the Chippewa Travellers. Through the nurturing of many family members, elders, and powwow friends throughout Turtle Island, Chris’understanding of powwow procedures, protocol, and tradition is highly respected. “I have had the honour in serving the people of the Wikwemikong at the political governing level for two terms and sat on many boards on and off reserve. My philosophy is: knowledge is the key to success and sucess comes from learning. Miigwech for the honour in sharing this time with you all”.
Head Veteran
Gerry Dore of Ottawa, ON has been a long-standing friend of the First Nations people as well as both past and present Veterans from the Chippewas of Rama First Nation. Currently residing in Ottawa, Gerry joined the military early in life and served with the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps until 1965. Mr. Dore remained with the Reserve Forces until 1976. At that time, he became Deputy Commander of the Cadet Corps. Mr. Dore has been a member of the Royal Canadian Legion for over 45 years, having joined in 1967. During these 45+ years, Mr. Dore has held many positions including Poppy Trust Fund Chairman, Veterans Services Officer, and Long Term Care Surveyor with Veterans Affairs Canada. Mr. Dore is also a member of the National Aboriginal Veterans Association. In May of 2012, he was presented with the Queens Jubilee Medal for his outstanding work. Mr. Dore is a caring and passionate individual who has worked hard for many years with both First Nations and non-First Nations military.
The Powwow Committee extends a huge gchi-miigwech for everyone who has come to help us.
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Dancing from the heart...
Feather and Cayden (age 3), Tiny Tots at the 2013 Powwow
Things heat up under the lights Saturday night!
Orillia Packet & Times
Robert Snache at www.spirithands.net
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Honouring our Traditional Teachers Every year, our Powwow Committee sets out to create a theme for our annual powwow. We try to choose one based on the year we’ve had and the lessons we’ve learned. This year, we lost community members who were invaluable and irreplaceable. Yet while they have passed on, their spirit and their teachings remain. We still hear their voices and their laughter, and we feel their presence as we go about our daily lives. A hard lesson learned through loss is that our traditional teachers need to be honoured as often as possible. We should never forget that our ways of life, our language, our drums, our customs...these are all things which we nearly lost forever. Yet our traditional teachers kept what matters most alive, and they continue to do so to this day. If not for our traditional teachers, we would not be gathered here today, witnessing the beautiful dancing or hearing the beat of the drum. The bannock you ate from the vendor would not have been made without the recipe passed down through generations. The dreamcatchers purchased from the craft stand would not be available but for traditional teachers carefully explaining how to make one. The drums would be just pieces of wood and rawhide but for drummakers teaching their sons and grandsons how to assemble it all together. Our endangered language would have been extinct years ago, after it was forbidden to be spoken. We honour the language-keepers who, sometimes militantly, pass it on to those younger. Traditional teachers are not just those who educate us about the Seven Grandfather Teachings, nor are they restricted to the Midewiwin Lodge. Traditional teachers are everywhere. They are the ones telling you stories about the Mnjikaning Fish Weirs, they teach you the significance of strawberries, they are the ones painfully telling their residential school survivor stories, they tell tales of Waynabozhoo. This year, we honour all of these traditional teachers. We honour them for all they have taught us and all they will teach us, but most of all we honour them for keeping all that is Anishinaabe alive. Without them, we would not be here together today.
A special event this weekend, bearing in mind our theme is “Honouring Our Traditional Teachers”, will be the “Teaching Lodge”. Organized by Elder Mark Douglas of Rama, the Teaching Lodge will host several Elders and traditional teachers throughout the day on Saturday. There will be teachings and storytelling shared over the weekend. You can find the Teaching Lodge by the Sacred Fire. Please remember to be respectful, patient, and understanding. Miigwech.
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Powwow Guest Survey We continually try to make Rama First Nation’s Powwow the best it can be. A big part of this is you -the guest- and your feedback. We would appreciate your suggestions to assist in making an even better Powwow for 2015. If you’d like to be entered in a random draw for two free passes to next year’s powwow, please include your name and phone number at the bottom of this page. You will also receive 2 re-useable coffee cups and a Powwow 101 booklet. Please detach this page and deposit into the survey box at the gates. How was your overall powwow experience? Bad Poor Okay Good Great Loved it! Was this your first time at Rama First Nation’s Powwow? Yes No Would you return to Rama’s powwow? Yes No Do you prefer traditional or competition powwow? Traditional Competition No preference How many kilometres did you travel for this event (both ways)? 0-25km 26-100km 101-500km 501+km Did/will you stay overnight, and if so where did you stay in the area? With family/friends Hotel Camping Did/will you spend money in Rama (including vendors, Casino, gas, etc), and if so, how much? 0-$25, $26-$100, $101-$250, $251-$500, $501+ Were you happy with the head staff and drums, including volunteers? Yes No How did you hear about the Rama First Nation Powwow? Advertisement Word of Mouth Social Media In the area by chance How many people are you travelling with this weekend? 0 1-2 3-5 6+ Can you recommend any improvements or changes?
Miigwech for your participation! Name:
Phone Number:
Email:
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Photo by Robert Snache www.spirithands.net