A collage of 3 Indigenous dancers wearing traditional regalia

Gidinawendamin/Ska’nikú•lát 21st Annual Pow Wow

September 28, 2024 marks the 21st anniversary of the Gidinawendamin/Ska’nikú•lát annual Pow Wow.

This year continues the collaboration between the Shatitsirótha’ Waterloo Indigenous Student Centre (WISC) and the University of Waterloo Office of Indigenous Relations (OIR). This one-day non-competitive celebration of Indigenous heritage features vendors, dancers, and singers from the Waterloo region and beyond. Join us as we celebrate Indigenous culture and tradition through song, dance, arts, and cuisine. Gidinawendamin/Ska’nikú•lát Pow Wow is intended to be a safe, welcoming, and vibrant opportunity for Indigenous and non-Indigenous folks from the UWaterloo community and beyond to gather in celebration of indigenization, decolonization, and reconciliation.

This remarkable event is free to attend and welcomes everyone to join. We gratefully acknowledge the University of Waterloo Athletics for their vital support in making this celebration possible! 

Information for: Attendees | Dancers | Vendors | Volunteers

Event Details

Date: September 28, 2024 

Time: 10:00 am – 5:30 pm 

  • Doors open at 10am

  • Grand Entry at 12pm 

Location: University of Waterloo, Columbia Ice Fields (CIF), Outdoor Field 7

220 Columbia St W, Waterloo, ON N2L 0A1 

Cost: Free admission       

Parking: Free parking available     

  • W lot reserved for elders, dancers, and vendors (elders given priority) 

  • X lot available for general parking      

  • Accessible parking available 

Note: The University of Waterloo is now a smoke-free campus and a designated smoking area will be available off site.  

Pow Wow Schedule

8:00am: Vendor set up begins 

9:00am: Dancer check in begins 

10:00am: Doors Open (welcome!) 

12:00pm: Grand Entry and Opening Ceremony 

12:30pm: Dance categories begin 

4:30pm: Specials begin 

5:00pm: Honorariums and give away 

5:15pm: Closing Ceremony 

5:45pm: Doors close to the public 

6:00pm: Feast for dancers and volunteers 

Thank you for coming! 

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What to Expect at a Pow Wow

Will this be your first time attending a Pow Wow? We are so happy you've decided to come on out and share in this beautiful experience! A Pow Wow is a cultural celebration that highlights Indigenous dance, music, food and art. This is a place to gather and connect, honouring old friendships and making new ones. Pow Wows are community events open for everyone to attend respectfully. Non-Indigenous folks are welcome and encouraged to come. This is a family-friendly environment, so bring your little ones and elders, and enjoy a day together with family.  

When you arrive, you will see dancers in beautiful traditional regalia, singers pounding meaningful songs on big drums, and vendors with their gifts and talents on display. There will also be Indigenous food available to enjoy, and water stations to refill your reusable water bottles. Dancers are divided into categories based on the style of dance they prefer. Some of these include grass dancers, fancy dancers, jingle dress dancers, fancy shawl, traditional style, and more. For spectators, some seating will be available, but you can also bring your own beach chair or your favourite blanket and find a comfy space to sprawl out.  You are welcome to come and go and move about as you please, outside of the dance arena. There will be opportunities for spectators to participate in the celebration as well. Every Pow Wow features Intertribal dances where all in attendance are welcome to enter the arena and dance together!  

Pow Wow Etiquette

Whether this is your first Pow Wow or if you've been on the Pow Wow trail for years, there is always something new to learn. We want you to get the most out of your time spent attending the celebration, so we are providing some basic information about how to attend and participate respectfully. Please take a moment to review our Pow Wow Etiquette. Miigwech/ nia:wen/ thank you!

Pow Wow Etiquette

We are looking forward to seeing you at the Pow Wow! To make sure everyone has the best time, we have included some things below that every Pow Wow goer should know. Thanks so much for taking some time to learn some basic Pow Wow etiquette.

If you have any further questions, please email powwow@uwaterloo.ca

Who can attend:

A Pow Wow is a gathering/celebration that everyone with a respectful mind and good heart can attend. Spectators are welcome to come and go as they please, browsing vendors, enjoying good food, or taking it easy while watching the many different styles of dancing. To attend as a vendor, dancer, or volunteer, please register on the main event page. No registration necessary for spectators. Tickets to be purchased at the door.

Respect for ceremony:

The Grand Entry and Opening Ceremony signal the beginning of the Pow Wow. The Opening Prayer will be offered by an Elder, veterans and leaders will carry flags and Eagle Staffs, and drummers/singers offer honour songs. The Emcee will announce when there are ceremonial aspects taking place, and how to respect them.

Photography:

Some moments of a Pow Wow aren’t supposed to be photographed, such as ceremonies and prayers. The Emcee will let folks know when it is not an appropriate time to take photos.  Ask permission before taking photos of individuals. Please show respect for the dancers and ask for permission from the dancer or the dancer’s parents if they’re a minor. Do not sell photos of the event for profit without agreement from and compensation for the dancer. You should also offer to share the dancers name and/or nation in any photo credits.

Do not bring drugs or alcohol:

A Pow Wow is a cultural event/celebration. Alcohol and drugs are not allowed on the premises. Aside from the celebration aspect, Pow wows are also places of ceremony and healing. 

Pay attention to the announcers:

The Emcee will be speaking throughout the event instructing the crowd when to stand, sit, and join in on the dance! They will share teachings about the Pow Wow as the day progresses, impress you with Pow Wow humour, and give you the go ahead to cheer dancers on.

Traditional vs. Competition Pow Wows:

Some Pow Wows are traditional ceremonies (such as the one hosted here on campus in September), while others are performed as competition. In competition Pow Wows, dancers and drummers compete for prize for money. At traditional Pow wows there is no competition, but there are typically spot dances and specials with cash prizes and give aways. Regardless of which type of Pow Wow you are attending, the same protocols and respect should be given.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions:

A Pow Wow is a spiritual experience for those participating, but you may not understand if you’re new to these events. If you have any questions, it’s always better to ask!

Browse the local vendors:

While browsing local vendors, enjoy the experience by asking questions, supporting, and uplifting Indigenous artists and crafts people. You may negotiate a bit, but remember many of the items for sale are hand-crafted and take a lot of skill and time to create.

It’s not a costume, we call it a regalia:

A dancer’s regalia is how they dress their spirit, so a dancer’s regalia holds spiritual significance. Regalia consists of hand crafted garments and adornments, and sacred items. Some dancers have several different regalia, and one may take several years to complete. A dancers regalia is specific to them. It may showcase spirit colours, special items, and gifts received. Each piece may tell a story about  a dancer’s region, nation, clan, history, or other meaningful things. Please don’t touch a dancer’s regalia or hair. These are sacred.

Please leave your pets at home:

Different Indigenous groups have different teachings about pets, but it is widely acknowledged that pets should not be in attendance at Pow Wows. The Anishinaabeg have a teaching that the Creator separated the path of man and wolf for a good reason. These paths will converge again, but until that time dogs and other pets should be left at home during ceremony. Service animals are welcome!

Join in the dancing!

An “Intertribal” is a dance where everybody is welcome to enter the arena and boogie! Everybody includes Indigenous, non-Indigenous, in regalia, no regalia, young, old …everybody come out and dance! The Emcee will let you know when these are taking place throughout the day. You might even be one the lucky ones who wins a prize in a spot dance!

Information for:

Dancers

Calling all dancers! Come out and shake what Creator gave you!

We are grateful for your interest in participating as a dancer in this year's Pow Wow. Please follow the link provided and fill out our pre-registration form. The Gidinawendamin/Ska’nikú•lát Pow Wow committee is grateful to have you join us. As a token of our appreciation, registered dancers will receive a small honorarium at the conclusion of the Pow Wow. We ask all Dancers to arrive between 9am and 11am for sign-in. 

Vendors

Come on out and showcase your creative gifts!

Gidinawendamin/Ska’nikú•lát 21’st Annual Pow Wow is grateful to host 40 arts & crafts/ product vendors, and ten information booths. For-profit vendors fee is $40 for the day, and must paid in advance or at the beginning of the Pow Wow. Information booths are exempt from this fee. All vendors are responsible for providing their own tables and chairs. Registered vendors will receive a free meal voucher.

Volunteers

Be part of an amazing celebration!

No experience necessary. Just bring a good heart and a willingness to help. All volunteers will be required to attend a 1.5-hour training session. 

Perks: Gain experience, get a free meal voucher, and receive a free event T-shirt! 

Sign up now! After filling out the registration form, a Pow Wow committee member will contact you. Thank you! 

If you have any questions, please contact us at powwow@uwaterloo.ca