This weekend we attended Thunderchild’s annual competition powwow in Saskatchewan. World champion dancers and singers travelled from all across Turtle Island to come to this celebration. Today, we will be reviewing everything that you need to know when deciding if Thunderchild is right powwow for you next season. Let’s get into it.
Dancing
This year, there were champion dancers and stiff competition in every category. One of the really cool things about this powwow was how they split the categories. Instead of your typical golden age, senior and junior adults, teens and juniors, the committee divided the categories even more. They lowered the golden age group in age and added a golden age plus category. They also had a senior/junior split for adults followed by the regular teen and junior categories. Additionally, they split women’s jingle into old style and contemporary. With so many jingle dress dancers at every powwow it’s seems fair to divide the category (especially when old style and contemporary are so different).
As far as the arbour was concerned, many dancers said the grounds were really tough to dance on. With lots of rough patches and holes in the ground, there were quite a few dancers who rolled their ankles and even, sprained them. Dancers really appreciate when the powwow committee prepares the grounds well. When dancers injure themselves out there that can mean no powwows for a couple weeks or even, the end of a season.
Despite that, Thunderchild held some really amazing specials. Head lady Simone Paskemin held a women’s fancy special that took place over the entire weekend. On Friday, competitors danced three songs in the contemporary style. On Saturday afternoon, those same competitors danced three songs in flat fringe, old style. From there, judges selected the top six to dance on Sunday in two more songs. Instead of pitting old style against contemporary, the special highlighted the importance and beauty of both styles.
The head man also put on a really incredible traditional special. On Sunday, men’s traditional danced over eight songs (including honouring songs). The family also honoured friends and Thunderchild community members.
Singing and Schedule
Thunderchild had a super stacked singing contest. Drum groups, like Northern Cree and the Boyz, were singing jammers all weekend.
Adult categories got one song on Friday, one song on Saturday and two contest songs on Sunday. With a busy schedule and multiple extra categories, it made sense to reduce the amount of contest songs. However, adults could have danced two songs on Saturday and one on Sunday to ensure that the powwow ended earlier on a travel day.
On Sunday, after completing all the other contests, the powwow committee held a six song women’s fancy special at one in the morning. At this point, dancers were tired and eager to pack up camp. The committee could have taken care of this special earlier and excused other dancers so that everyone could have a chance to rest or travel safely to their next destination. The powwow did not end until just about two in the morning, which squashed the opportunity to travel at least a couple hours that night to the next destination.
Food and Vendors
Thunderchild had quite a few different food booths, but not too much in the way of vendors (especially those selling artisan goods). While there were many food places to choose from, the selection wasn’t very diverse. Staples like fries and burgers were a consistent menu item across the board. There was one vendor selling neckbones (yum) but they were twenty-five dollars a plate. So, it wasn’t the most economical option.
Next year, I look forward to seeing more healthy options, especially considering some dancers are only eating vendor food throughout the weekend.
Although there weren’t too many crafts vendors, the ones that did set up, had some great stuff. Anishinaabe Bimishimo had a booth at the powwow that was stocked up with jackets, hoodies, t-shirts, baby clothes, toques and more. In addition, there were vendors selling ribbons, beads and beading supplies, and other crafting goods.
Bathrooms
There were plenty of porta-potties at Thunderchild, but cleaners did not clean them as frequently as they should have. They were still useable, but the sinks ran out of soap and paper towel pretty much right away. In order to make guests feel comfortable, cleaners should pay more attention to refilling and cleaning bathroom facilities.
While the powwow itself was fun, some aspects of the weekend made guests feel unsafe. For example, some kids were going around bear macing people. Sometimes these things happen, but regardless, they do make people less inclined to return the following year.
Despite some of the external factors, Thunderchild powwow still had some amazing dancing in every category and a wicked singing contest. To be able to dance among the best to jamming songs made this weekend one for the books.
