Community at the heart of the Ryerson Pow Wow
Ryerson student Phyllis McKenna is one of the Head Dancers participating in this year’s virtual Ryerson Pow Wow. Photo credit: Nendujan Ratnarajah.
COVID-19 hasn’t stopped student organizers who have pivoted to move the 2020 Ryerson Pow Wow online.
The student-led initiative will start with Ryerson Pow Wow Education Week from September 21-24 and the Pow Wow (external link) taking place online September 25 from 12 to 2 p.m. Ryerson Pow Wow Education Week will feature virtual discussions and panels, demonstrations and workshops, lectures, film screenings, and more. There will also be a virtual marketplace with all of the Pow Wow vendors. A full schedule of events is online at https://www.torontomu.ca/powwow/schedule/.
While the Pow Wow on September 25 will be live-streamed from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., it’s actually a pre-recorded video produced by Indigenous filmmakers, Moontime Productions, that will feature two emcees, head dancers, drummers, and video submissions. Please visit www.rupowwow.com/ (external link) for the live-stream link.
Although most of the Pow Wow will be online, a Sacred Fire will be initiated at a remote Sunrise Ceremony to ensure community members can still set intentions and prayers on the day of the Pow Wow. The Pow Wow Firekeeper, Johnny Moore, will hold the Sacred Fire at the Humber River.
Whether online or in-person, community is at the heart of the Pow Wow, says Jessica Sherk, an Anishinaabe master of social work student and chair of the Ryerson Pow Wow organizing committee.
“One of our main goals is to recreate that sense of community,” Sherk said. “Because at the end of the day, it’s a community-driven event for Indigenous and non-Indigenous folks to come together.”
Tradition meets innovation
When the pandemic began, Pow Wow organizers across Turtle Island shifted their programming online. Inspired by digital events like the Cyber Pow Wow and social media Pow Wows on Facebook (external link) , student organizers started to reimagine the Ryerson Pow Wow as well.
Ojibwe fourth-year media production student, Karly Cywink, from White Fish River First Nations, is the communications and design lead for this year’s Pow Wow. After having helped organize last year’s Pow Wow, Cywink is relying heavily on virtual interaction to further create that sense of community.
“Online interaction is extremely important with this Pow Wow, but it’s difficult to curate,” Cywink said. “We’re encouraging people who are on social media to follow and use the hashtag #RUPowWow. Also, on the day of the Pow Wow (Sept. 25), there will be a live moderated chat available during the stream. We’re hoping people will use that function to comment and chat with each other during the Pow Wow.”
The team also launched an interactive website, www.rupowwow.com/ (external link) , so viewers and attendees can participate in the full week of events.
Currently, the online vendor market (external link) has launched where people can discover and support many Indigenous artists and entrepreneurs. The virtual marketplace is an important aspect of the Pow Wow.
“Another goal we had during planning was having an emphasis on sustainable economic development,” Sherk said. “We wanted to make sure that we're expanding economic opportunities and cultivating long-term relationships, so the vendor market will be online for a year. That was really important to us because we want to give opportunities to Indigenous folks, not just during Pow Wow, but year round.”
Extending a helping hand
In addition to cultivating entrepreneurship and innovation, organizers were intentional about supporting Indigenous community members, especially those who are street involved or currently homeless. Community calls were made to organize food and supply drives to support frontline Indigenous services in Toronto. Celebratory feasts have also been arranged for community Elders.
Donations for the food and supply drive can be dropped off between September 21-24 from 3 to 9 p.m. at 80 Gould Street (across from the Metro). Visit the donation site for more information regarding what supplies are needed.
This is not the first year for donations, but this is the first year that outreach and support has been this far reaching. Currently, food and supplies will be donated to: Native Women's Resources Centre; Na-Me-Res; Native Youth Resource Centre; 2-Spirited People of the 1st Nations; Anduhyaun; and, Council Fire.
Feasts will also be delivered to the following organizations who will be screening the Pow Wow: Na-Me-Res; Native Youth Resource Centre; Native Women's Resources Centre; and, 2-Spirited People of the 1st Nations.
Hosted by Saagajiwe (external link) , a transdisciplinary Indigenous centre for research and creation based in the Faculty of Communication and Design, Ryerson’s annual Pow Wow was one of the recommendations of Ryerson’s community consultation report, created in response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada.
Support for the Pow Wow was funded by the Department of Canadian Heritage and Canadian Roots Exchange. The Pow Wow also received generous donations from CESAR Ryerson and Crosslinx Transit for its food drive. For information about the Ryerson Pow Wow Education Week, please visit https://www.torontomu.ca/powwow/. To check out the vendor market and watch the live-stream of the Pow Wow on September 25, please visit www.rupowwow.com/ (external link) .
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