Kanien'kehá:ka dancer pops marriage proposal during 2-step at Wemotaci powwow
Dancing pair met at a powwow 6 years ago
The powwow trail has always been an important part of life for both Owen Mayo and Kwena Bellemare-Boivin.
Bellemare-Boivin took her first steps wearing a jingle dress. Travelling from powwow to powwow to dance has helped Mayo with sobriety.
It's where the two met each other, where they spend most of their summers, and where he recently asked her to be his wife.
"Powwows saved my life and they're saving a lot of people's lives right now, especially with this pandemic," said Mayo.
Mayo is Kanien'kehá:ka (Mohawk) from Kahnawake, just south of Montreal, and Bellemare-Boivin is Atikamekw from Wemotaci, 200 kilometres northwest of Quebec City. The couple met over six years ago while at a powwow in Pessamit, about 300 kilometres northeast of Quebec City.
He asked her to be his girlfriend at the next powwow they saw each other at. Together, they have two children who are following in their footsteps as powwow dancers.
After two years of cancelled powwows because of COVID-19, the family travelled to Bellemare-Boivin's home community last weekend for its annual traditional powwow.
Mayo popped the question at the powwow on the arena floor with a handmade pair of pucker toe-style Haudenosaunee moccasins, and a ring from his late grandmother.
"I think a lot of us struggled with not being able to go and dance, so it just made it that much more special," he said.
Bellemare-Boivin said she was caught off-guard by the proposal as they were in the middle of dancing a two step, a powwow dance where men and women dance as partners, holding hands.
"When he let go of my hand, I asked him what he's doing because it's a two step — usually we tell each other what we're doing," she said.
"I see him taking the moccasins out. I was like no way . . . Just a shock. I started crying right away. It was a surprise."
Mayo said it was important to share that special moment with his powwow trail family, as well as Bellemare-Boivin's community.
"Kwena has been living here for five years now. A lot of her friends from back home and family back home haven't seen her on a day-to-day basis," said Mayo.
"I was so happy that they got to see this."
Bellemare-Boivin agreed.
"To have an important moment in my life happening again in a dress at a powwow means a lot to me," she said.
"My grandma on both sides were there. My dad's mother and my grandma from my mom's side. It was really nice to have everyone see it."
They have no date for their wedding, but they said they hope to tie the knot at a powwow.
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