Oromocto First Nation attracts hundreds for 7th annual powwow
Oromocto First Nation is hosting its 7th annual powwow this weekend, attracting people from all across Wabanaki -- the Atlantic provinces.
Settlers were also invited to join in on the festivities, including local dignitaries Lt.-Gov. Brenda Murphy, MLA Mary Wilson, and Mayor Bob Powell.
"We invite a lot of our neighbours from our communities to come and participate, just to see them and welcome them and just to celebrate with us,” said Shelley Sabattis, Oromocto First Nation's chief.
"It makes me proud, I feel hope towards reconciliation and it's good on the heart,” said Dr. Allan Sabattis-Atwin of Oromocto First Nation. “I hope that it touches their heart and they understand the work that's needed to move forward together."
The powwow is a chance to gather people from all across Wabanaki to share culture and community.
"It's about continuing to celebrate myself and my community and my culture,” said Nisa Kennedy, from Sitansisk, also known as St. Mary's First Nation.
“I think there's still a lot of education that's still happening but we still have a lot further to go."
"I wasn't raised with my culture due to my grandfather’s passing at a young age, so this is a way for me to reconnect to my culture,” said James Martin, who attended the powwow Saturday. “A lot of the culture is gone and resources are hard to find."
From food vendors to Wabanaki wares -- it's also a chance for people and Indigenous-owned businesses to network.
"I think it's a really big part of building community and networking, making sure we all know where everyone is and what everyone is doing,” said Collin Alexander, with the Indigenous Tourism Association.
The powwow also gives children a way to express their love and knowledge of their culture.
"We kind of think of it as our own day to celebrate,” Sabattis said.
“It's very touching to see all of the youth, their colours are just beautiful, their passion, their expression, their love for their culture and their community is just beautiful."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
Powerful tornado tears across Nebraska, weather service warns of 'catastrophic' damage
Devastating tornadoes tore across parts of eastern Nebraska and northeast Texas Friday as a multi-day severe thunderstorm event ramped up in the central United States, injuring at least three people.
Toxic testing standoff: Family leaves house over air quality
A Sherwood Park family says their new house is uninhabitable. The McNaughton's say they were forced to leave the house after living there for only a week because contaminants inside made it difficult to breathe.
Trump's lawyers try to discredit testimony of prosecution's first witness in hush money trial
Donald Trump's defence team attacked the credibility Friday of the prosecution's first witness in his hush money case, seeking to discredit testimony detailing a scheme between Trump and a tabloid to bury negative stories to protect the Republican's 2016 presidential campaign.