The Indigenous Education Advisory Council of the Okanagan Similkameen School District 53 will be hosting a powwow early next month.
The 15th annual Celebration of Traditions Powwow will take place on Friday, April 4 and Saturday, April 5 at the Similkameen Elementary Secondary School gymnasium at 830 2nd Avenue in Keremeos, and will include special events, drum groups, singing, meals and more.
The celebration will begin on Friday at 10 a.m. with a session for Grade 4 students until noon., followed by a session for all high school students from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. The two local band schools are also invited to attend.
The powwow sessions kick off on Friday night from 7 p.m. until 11 p.m., and Saturday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and again from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Breakfast will be served on Saturday morning from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and dinner on both days at 5:30 p.m. All powwow sessions are open to the public and free to attend.
"During these sessions, the students learn about the significance and origin of the different styles of dances," said Indigenous education teacher Helen Gallagher. "The arena director will give students opportunities to perform the dances they learn about, and they will get to experience different games so they have fun during both sessions."
There will be games for the public to participate in during the evening powwow sessions, as well as local and visiting Indigenous vendors selling their crafts. There will also be a raffle table with great prizes.
Smokey Valley will be the host drum, High Water will be the second drum and Frances James will be the emcee during the powwow.
All drum groups will receive an honorarium and must include at least four singers with all drums being registered. Vendors are welcome for $75 plus a door prize donation. For booking, contact Naomi Etty at 250-485-4433 or netty@sd53.bc.ca, and for all other inquiries, contact Gallagher at 250-498-4346.
The event will be a smoke and vape-free zone.
