Celebrating 32nd Echoes of a Proud Nation pow-wow in Kahnawake

Thousands gathered at one of Quebec’s largest pow-wows on Montreal’s South Shore Saturday.

The Echoes of a Proud Nation pow-wow took place in the Mohawk community of Kahnawake.

The event is a celebration of Indigenous culture and community. There were 75 craft booths and 25 food vendors — a lots of dancing.

“Since I was a baby, I’ve been coming here. And I really like the dancing. And it’s really fun,” a eight-year-old told CityNews.

The two-day event attracts tourists from all over and provides opportunities for Indigenous and non-Indigenous people to learn about the community’s cultural traditions. The annual event is in its 32nd year.

“To bring back our culture that was taken away,” one woman said.

“We all have our differences, we all have our languages, people have to learn to help one another,” added another.

“I love coming to the pow-wow because we… as you can see our line up here, we’re treated like they threw down the red carpet for us,” said Caroline Griffin, food vendor at Adrianna’s Den.

Griffin, who makes the trip from Ontario, has attended the pow-wow 22 times. Many wait in line to try her food.

“Just up till now from breakfast, I’d say easily thousand,” she said.

Despite Saturday’s weather reaching a high of 29 degrees Celsius – feeling more like 36 with the humidity – it didn’t slow things down for Griffin.

“I do have a little breeze coming in and thank God for that,” she added.

One teenager told CityNews they were most looking to smoke dancing.

“It’s a medicine,” he said. “If you’re not feeling OK, just listen to it or some dance and you’ll feel better.”