23rd Annual Chief Will-Yum Father’s Day Pow-Wow

Sunday, 20 June 2010 09:05 |

Events

By Joe Cousins

This weekend the Williams Lake Indian Band is hosting the 23rd annual Chief Will-Yum Father’s Day Pow-Wow, which includes a hand-drumming contest, a traditional feast, a Princess Pageant, a Father’s Day celebration, on-site camping and much more.

(Photo: Traditional dancers make their grand entrance at 7:00 pm on Saturday.)

The grand entry into the arbour on Saturday took place at 1:00pm, again at 7:00pm, and will happen for a final time during this year's event on Sunday at 1:00pm. Dancers dress up in traditional regalia with intricate quill and beadwork, feathers, breechclothes, buckskin leggings, moccasins and head dresses. Everyone participates from the youngest tribe members to the elders, both native and non-native.

There are food and vendor booths with something for everyone, including hand made crafts, traditional native cuisine and original artwork. One vendor travelled from Arizona to participate in the pow wow and market his hand-made delights. "My wife was raised here, she is from the Shuswap tribe and my whole family likes to take part in the pow wow," said Everett White. "My family also runs the booth to sell traditional treasures from my company, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . My art has been so popular that I only have one original art piece left to sell." (Photo: Everett White and his last original painting.)

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"We have had a very good turn out, the weather has been great," said one of the event organizers, Virginia Gilbert, as the events began to wind down on Saturday evening. "We are looking forward to our final events on Sunday."