2018 Embody the Spirit Pow Wow | Masters Indigenous Games
Join us for the 1st Annual Embody the Spirit Pow Wow on July 15, 2018 at Downsview Park in North York, Ontario, Canada. The inaugural Masters Indigenous Games (MIG) will close with a traditional Pow Wow featuring dance specials and a community feast. The Pow Wow will be held on the last day of the four-day multi-sport and cultural event, set to inspire, educate and celebrate participants and spectators alike. The Embody the Spirit Pow Wow will be part of the official closing events, including a community feast and closing ceremony. Although a focus of the MIG 2018 is to celebrate the global Indigenous community, a special emphasis on the cultures and traditions of ‘Indigenous Ontario’ will be showcased in the spotlight.
Embody the Spirit Pow Wow | Masters Indigenous Games
The Embody the Spirit Pow Wow will be held at Downsview Park, where the majority of Masters Indiginous Games sport competitions are set to take place. To showcase the unique cultural make up of Indigenous Ontario, the Pow Wow will feature a variety of dance specials, including a competitive Smoke Dance special with male and female categories and a Smoke Dance Golden Age Demo special. Drum groups, a vital component for any Pow Wow, attending from across Ontario, include Smoke Trail, Little Creek, and M’skhaaziwin. The Smoke Dance special will be led by traditional Haudenosaunee singers, Old Mush. Old Mush is a singing society from Six Nations of the Grand River First Nation, with very specific rules, traditions, leadership, and responsibilities who raise funds for their support their community members in time of need. Bob Goulais, an Anishinaabe from Nipissing First Nation and avid Pow Wow singer, will be the host emcee for the day. Additionally, cultural demonstrations from Africa, Australia and New Zealand will be on display, cultivating a global Indigenous celebration.
Embody the Spirit Pow Wow participants, athletes, honoured guests and volunteers, will be invited to join in a traditional community feast following the event, to emphasize the importance of community and to ensure that everyone leaves in a good way. Vendors will be on site at the Cultural Village selling Indigenous made art, goods and food throughout the day. An enticing prize board has been put together, with additional prize packs available for all registered Pow Wow dancers.
GRAND ENTRY STARTS AT NOON SUNDAY!
The Masters Indigenous Games Embody The Spirit Pow Wow will be the official event for Medal and Closing Ceremonies. The Pow Wow will have Grand Entry at Noon, followed by the intertribal dance at 1:00 pm. During the Pow Wow we’ll have traditional sports demonstrations such as lacrosse, and tug of war. The Medal Ceremony is scheduled to begin at 4:00 pm followed by the Smoke Dance competition then the Official Closing Ceremonies at 5:00 pm. All registered dancers will receive a day honourarium for being a part of the first-ever Masters Indigenous Games Embody the Spirit Pow Wow and everyone is invited to the traditional feast that will take place after the pow wow.
For More Information:
Pow wow: culture@mastersindigenousgames.ca
General Inquiries: admin@mastersindigenousgames.ca
Media Inquiries: communications@mastersindigenousgames.ca
Pow Wow Head Staff
DRUM GROUPS: Smoke Trail, Little Creek, Mixed Tribe, Youth Drum Group – M’shkaaziwin, Smoke Dance Singers – Old Mush Singers
MC’S: Host MC – Bob Goulais; Co-Host – Mista Wasis
ARENA DIRECTOR: Robert Stoneypoint
Embody the Spirit Pow Wow Dance Competition Rules
- ONLY registered dancers may receive day honourarium or Smoke Dance competition prizes.
- Registrations will be limited and payments will be awarded on the day of the event.
- Identification will be required.
- All decisions are final.
- NO late entries.
- We respectfully request that all dancers are drug/ alcohol-free.
- Disclaimer: We will not be responsible for lost/stolen articles
Location
Parc Downsview Park
35 Carl Hall Road
North York, ON M3K 2B6, Canada
Directions: Getting to Downsview Park and the Cultural Village
Visitors have access to free on-site parking, or you can access the park via public transportation. Downsview Park GO/TTC Station provides Park visitors a whole new way of getting there, and anywhere else you need to go in Toronto! The Downsview Park GO/TTC subway station connects to Line 1 and provides access all across Toronto. Please visit the TTC’s official website for up-to-date information, a list of schedules, and to follow services alerts.
About the Games
The purpose of the Masters’ Games is to provide Indigenous adults aged 20 years and older the opportunity to compete against their peers in a variety of contemporary and traditional sporting activities. For Indigenous adults, the Masters’ Indigenous Games are an opportunity to get physically active, engage with community and participate in competition. These games will bring together hundreds of athletes from across North America to compete in sport competitions, celebrate Indigenous wellness and the Indigenous cultures of Turtle Island. Not only are the games an opportunity for Indigenous athletes to compete, it presents an opportunity for North American Indigenous Games (NAIG) alumni to reunite with past teammates, competitors and friends.[su_accordion][su_spoiler title=”Read More”]
In addition to the various sport competitions, the Masters Games will provide all participants and attendees with a safe and excellent opportunity to celebrate and promote the various cultures of Indigenous peoples world-wide. A cultural festival showcasing Indigenous artists, performers, storytellers and vendors will be taking place, as well as the Embody the Spirit Powwow. The Masters’ Indigenous Games is expected to be the cultural event of the summer for Toronto.
The Masters Indigenous Games are made possible due to the determination and commitment from the official Provincial/Territorial Aboriginal Sporting Body for Ontario, The Aboriginal Sport and Wellness Council of Ontario (ASWCO). ASWCO believes that sport and culture have the power to change lives, improve wellness, and provide opportunities for personal growth and community development. They are an organization that is dedicated to the wellness of Indigenous Peoples across Ontario, through programs that promote sport, recreation, physical literacy and land-based learning. ASWCO promotes healthy living and offers training, certifications and support for coaches, athletes, and similar organizations and serves all Indigenous Peoples and communities across the province of Ontario, including First Nations, Inuit and Metis, living on and off-reserve. The mission of ASWCO is to ‘enhance the physical, emotional, mental, spiritual, cultural and social well-being of Aboriginal peoples in Ontario through physical activity, recreation and sports activities.’[/su_spoiler][/su_accordion]
CULTURAL VILLAGE
Immerse yourself in a spectacular showcase of Indigenous culture with the Masters Indigenous Games Cultural Village. Located in Downsview Park, the village will be within walking distance of a majority of the sporting venues in a beautiful, open area. The village will offer a celebration of cultural experiences through workshops, storytelling, and interactive performances, as well as daily demonstrations of various traditional games. After the demonstrations, visitors will be able to participate in any of the given traditional games, which will be inclusive and entertaining for the whole family to enjoy.
HOURS:
Friday 11:00am – 5:00pm. Main Stage performances 7:00pm – 9:00pm.
Saturday 10:00am – 5:00pm. Main Stage performances 7:00pm – 9:00pm.
Sunday 11:00am – 5:00 pm. Pow Wow grand entry begins at Noon. Traditional feast to begin at 6:00pm.
VENDORS VILLAGE
Visitors to the Masters Indigenous Games Cultural Village will have the chance to browse a number of authentic Indigenous crafts, art, and material focused vendors. Children will have the opportunity to participate in a number of children-based educational workshops that focus on Indigenous cultures and knowledge sharing.
Mark your calendar today so you don’t miss the Embody the Spirit Pow Wow in July at Downsview Park in North York, Ontario, Canada.
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