'We did it': Saint John celebrates inaugural powwow

Saint John's first powwow was an overwhelming success, according to the event's organizer.

The Menahqesk Pow Wow drew around 7,000 people to TD Station on Saturday and Sunday, according to Possesom Paul, the co-ordinator of the event.

By comparison, the St. Mary's powwow usually draws 10,000 people but it has been operating since 2000.

Paul said the fact that the Saint John event, which was the last powwow for the year in New Brunswick, was held at all makes it a success.

"We did it. That's the big [takeaway]," said Paul. "It's hard to create any event, let alone to create an Indigenous event."

Community support

Paul said he was encouraged by the size of the crowd, especially considering it was an inaugural event.

"I think one of the most incredible things was just seeing all the non-Indigenous people in the city of Saint John really coming in and having a good time and being really well supported and open," he said.

Morse Dreaver, a member of the Black Bear drum group, said it was great to look up into the stands and see so many non-Indigenous people.

"It's absolutely beautiful," said Dreaver.

"We're showcasing our tradition, our culture, our way of life. For me that's 100 per cent positive."

Saint John is unique among New Brunswick cities in that there is no established First Nation reserve or community nearby.

The closest reserve to Saint John is Oromocto First Nation, which is 70 kilometres upriver.

But Paul said it's inaccurate to view the location of the powwow in this way, as all land in the province is unceded, so Saint John is inherently an Indigenous community.

"At the end of the day, we're on unsurendered, unceeded Wolastoquey land in Saint John," said Paul.

"It is [a] Wolostoq community, whether or not there's a reserve created by the government system to put our people off of our homeland. It doesn't mean that we're not in Wolastoq country."

Still, attendee Oonig Paul-Ward said having urban events like the Saint John powwow are important to many Indigenous people.

"If you grew up in the city and off-reserve, it's a real honour. There's no words to describe it, really," Paul-Ward said.

"We get to celebrate our culture."

Looking to the future

While the powwow was successful overall, Paul said he'd like it to become a yearly event and that ball is in the city's court now.

"Honestly, you know how politicians play their cards," said Paul. 

"They're very happy, and very happy with the support, and very glad that we did it, and saying really good things about it.… I'm not saying 'yes' or 'no' until I see that actual request in my email."

CBC News reached out to the city about its future plans for the powwow and has yet to hear back.