Despite all the busyness leading to that moment, as soon as the first drum beat hits, the organizer always finds inner peace as the sacred weekend starts.
Michael Stephens first started organizing the Millbrook Pow wow in 2018 with Carley Gloade and Zachary Julian. - Chelsey GouldMILLBROOK, N.S. — Standing inside the quiet powwow grounds, Michael Stephens gets chills thinking about the vibrant tent city about to take over after three long years of waiting in Millbrook.
Prize money of $30,000 each goes to the best drummer and dancer. For many of the dancers, entertainers and vendors, this is their livelihood, said Stephens. The competitions and funding go towards upgrading their regalia and nonstop travel on the road all summer. “A lot of people would go to powwows every weekend then and dance and catch up with loved ones and kind of socialize,” said Julian. “So this is definitely huge for us in the sense of getting the community back together.”
One powerful moment during 2019’s powwow was an honour song for missing and murdered Indigenous women. More than a hundred women danced in a circle, offering tobacco, with others backing up with prayers. The grounds have recently been upgraded with lights around the track and a warming hut and shed with funding from the Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq. The hut will help elders, particularly as they keep funeral fires going for days.“What I love about it is that everywhere you look, everybody's smiling – big cheese, big ear-to-ear smiles and everybody's joking,” said Stephens.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Powwow performers from across the globe descending on Millbrook after 3 years | SaltWireThe event takes place on Aug. 13 and 14, starting at noon each day with the grand entry. $60K in prize money is up for grabs. “It's such a powerful presence,” said co-organizer Michael Stephens. “When they bring all the dancers into the arena, every sin...
Read more »
Mississippi Mills, Ont. councillor has pay suspended for breaching COVID-19 vaccination policyA Mississippi Mills, Ont. councillor has had her pay suspended for 90 days after breaching the municipality's COVID-19 vaccination policy by attending council meetings while refusing to disclose her vaccination status.
Read more »
North Korea declares victory over COVID, suggests leader Kim had itSEOUL — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has declared victory over COVID\u002D19 and his sister indicated that he too caught the virus, while vowing “deadly…
Read more »
COVID daily update: Can cannabis help?A new study finds regular cannabis use might help with COVID outcomes — but there's a catch. — via healthing_ca
Read more »
COVID daily update: Can cannabis help?A new study finds regular cannabis use might help with COVID outcomes — but there's a catch. — via healthing_ca
Read more »