Indigenous people share what the area’s first official gathering will mean to them
This is part of a series called Ann’s Eye, featuring the work of Ann Paul, a Wolastoqey content creator. You can see more Ann’s Eye pieces by clicking here.
APTN News: The Saint John region will have its first official powwow this fall, and Indigenous people in the area are excited.
The 2024 Menahqesk powwow, which will be hosted by Wolastoqey and Mi’kmaw community members, will take place at the TD Station in October and feature food, dancing, drumming, vendors and singing. Organizers estimate the event will attract 10,000 visitors to the area.
WATCH: The Saint John powwow will bring people together ‘in the place where it all began’:
What the first powwow in Saint John means to Indigenous peoples
1 day ago, Duration 3:01
This fall, the Indigenous community will have its first official powwow in Saint John. Ann Paul visited Fort La Tour, a place rich with history and the presence of the ancestors, to hear why this event is so important.
Click on the following link to view the video:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/anns-eye-saint-john-first-powwow-1.7149484
A group of Indigenous people spoke with CBC contributor Ann Paul about their excitement for the powwow.
Menahqesk is the Wolastoqey name for the area, meaning “where the sea takes the land.”
Kateri Hibbert of Sipekne’katik Mi’kmaq Nation in Nova Scotia said the water in the area is sacred, referencing the Reversing Falls that used to be used for vision quests.
- Saint John plans first powwow for 2024 as part of reconciliation efforts
- City puts $50,000 into planning for first powwow in Saint John
“There’s a massive hunger here in Saint John. The river’s calling us home,” she said.
Scroll through the photos and watch the video to find out more.
Ann’s Eye
Photographer Ann Paul brings an Indigenous lens to stories from First Nations communities across New Brunswick. Click here or on the image below to see more of her work.
