Experiencing a Pow Wow in Edmonton - Day 1 of Our STM Trip

We met up with our STM trip teammates in Edmonton

A Pow Wow in Edmonton


We met up with our STM team members at the Edmonton Airport.

Since it was lunch time, P. took us to the Lee Garden, in Chinatown, Edmonton for a Korean lunch.











This was the first time our entire team sitting down and shared a meal together. We had  a great fellowship and got to know our team members a little better.

We went to \a Pow Wow at the Edmonton Stadium

Since we are going north to a reserve, P. felt it was important that we learn as much about the cultures and traditions of the aboriginal people as possible.

It happened that there was a Pow Wow in Edmonton this weekend, so the entire team went to the event.

Pow Wow is a big event for the aboriginal peoples in Canada!  It is their way of meeting together. The first nations people participate in dancing, singing and competitions.  First Nations people come from afar visiting others,  renewing old friendships and making new ones at this event.

We heard a lot about it and looked for one close to Toronto to attend.

A few years ago, we drove about 300 Km north of Toronto to a town called Owen Sound and attended a Pow Wow close by.














It was a good experience, something new to us and we enjoyed it.  But I remembered it was a big event for many of the aboriginal  people in the area and we had a very hard time finding accommodation for that weekend.

 Eventually, a kind heart motel owner took pity on us, and found us a bed and breakfast place for the night.

It happened that the couple of days we were in Edmonton, there was a Pow Wow held at the Edmonton Stadium.





Since many of our group members never attended one our leader decided we should go and learn more about the culture and traditions of our aboriginal people.

This Pow Wow was a huge event as it was held in the Edmonton Stadium.  The place was packed with first nation peoples from all over the areas.



People of all ages took part in this big celebration. Many brought their own lawn chairs, found a good spot and and parked themselves there with members of their families.

Dressed proudly in their traditional resplendent costumes decorated with colourful feathers, beads along with their beautiful headgear, many aboriginal people were there to compete in dancing as well as taking in the sights and sounds of the event.

Boys and girls were strutting their traditional costumes proudly!

We watched some dancing competitions, with boys, girls, women and men's team from various regions and communities

There were displays of native arts and crafts. beaded jewelry , clothing and other items.

We saw some creative aboriginal beaded jewelry and some women in our group got excited about them.


The Pow Wow in Edmonton was big in size compared to the one we saw before.

The only thing I could not find was the delicious seafood that we tried at our last Pow Wow, But it was a good learning experience.

R.T.
Edmonton, Alberta