Advertisement

Kahnawake Pow Wow kicks off for the 29th year: ‘It brings people together’

The 29th Kahnawake Pow-Wow started July 13. Billy Shields/Global News

For the 29th year, the Mohawk nation of Kahnawake is holding its annual pow wow on the South Shore, a First Nations festival that combines traditional dance and crafts with outdoor food drink.

“It brings people together,” said Dina Filippelli. “We welcome everybody here.”

Story continues below advertisement

Some on the first day of the event came from afar. Logan Lewis is Mi’kmaq, hailing from Prince Edward Island, and made the trek to dance the grass dance. Paul Battaglia drove up from New Paltz, New York to see the Kahnawake Pow-Wow.

Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day.

Get daily National news

Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day.
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

“It’s something I’ve always been brought up in, something I love to do,” Battaglia said.

The event acts as a gateway to Indigenous culture, and much of it involves competitive dancing for cash prizes.

“We’re storytellers when we dance,” said John McComber, a former Kahnawake peacekeeper. “If you watch a traditional dancer when he dances, he tells a story.

Story continues below advertisement

The two-day event continues Sunday.

WATCH: (May 10, 2017) Kahnawake’s Raven Swamp claims Miss Indian World

Click to play video: 'Kahnawake’s Raven Swamp claims Miss Indian World'
Kahnawake’s Raven Swamp claims Miss Indian World

Sponsored content

AdChoices