First Nations stand together at annual Three Fires Pow Wow

Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation focused on culture, heritage and tradition at its 35th annual Three Fires Homecoming Pow Wow & Traditional Gathering on the weekend.

“It’s a sense of pride and a flashback to our culture and our heritage and our history,” said Stacey LaForme, elected chief of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, who noted how vital the pow wow is to the community. “So it’s massively important to the community. And it’s also important to all the allies and friends we’ve built over the years, to get a chance to come out and spend some time in the community.

“I was very happy that we got to recognize the four (Mississaugas of the Credit) chiefs that are still in the community and live here – we did an honor song. The Six Nations veterans were also a part of it, which I really appreciated.”

Two pow wows were held Saturday, including an evening pow wow which was moved under a big tent, and one Sunday afternoon, also under the tent. Each pow wow featured a grand entry, drumming, intertribal songs and dancing. Arts and crafts were displayed by First Nation traders all weekend.

Usually the chief leads Saturday’s opening grand entry, but this year was different.

“This year I said, ‘I’m coming right at the very end.’ So I came in following the children, then gave my speech. I’ve been a leader in my community now for council for several years and chief for eight years, and I’ve announced that I’m not running again. I said, ‘I want everybody to see that I know how to follow as well as lead.’”

The next Mississaugas of the Credit election is Dec. 9 – on LaForme’s birthday – and he said there are reasons he decided not to run in the election.

“One of them is, since I’ve been chief… I just ran forward. And we had a lot of success. So when I ran, that meant my organization had to run with me. And it also meant the community, to some degree, had to run. That’s been going on for eight years… My thinking is they need a new leader, someone who is going to slow down, give time for everybody to catch up and go forward at a nice steady pace. Because I’m not slowing down.”

During Laforme’s tenure they have built a new governance system, completed an expansion of the community school, added high speed internet, added housing and social services.

Earlier this summer LaForme led a delegation of Mississauga Nation chiefs to England and Scotland, visiting King Charles III.

“Everything is growing,” said LaForme. “And some other projects… are right at the cusp – just as I’m going out they are going to be thriving and everybody is going to know about them. So it’s going to be big.

“You don’t envisage failure when you’re doing things, you envisage success. I know that there is always a way. It’s just that sometimes you have to stop and go around in a circle to get where you’re going, sometimes you go straight ahead. Sometimes you have to wait for the time to be right, so I am hopeful.”

Friday’s rain had softened the fields in the parking area, the trails and the vendor area, and hard rain Saturday afternoon made for muddy grounds. Sunny skies Sunday, however, greatly improved conditions.

Terry Taylor of Brantford, from the Upper Cayuga First Nation, and Judy Cooper of Manitoulin Island, from the Wikwemikong First Nation, enjoyed the friendly, informal intertribal dancing to six drums on the weekend.

“For me, it’s traditional,” said Taylor. “Most (pow wows) nowadays are competitions. This is not a competition. Everybody, even the people who come to watch, can participate. And that gives it a lot more ‘feeling.’”

“Competition is for money. We dance for our spirit and our prayers and our people,” said Cooper. “First Nations come from all over – we all gather from all different territories. And we become a family, we really do. You have to be nothing but happy when you see these children and the beautiful colors.”

Taylor said he also appreciates the artisans and food vendors on site.

“I can see some beautiful stuff,” Taylor smiled.

[email protected]