... at the Harvest Festival, Wakefield, Quebec, Sept. 29, 2007

Some images taken at the Harvest Festival at Wakefield, Quebec, Sept. 29, 2007

The Jingle Dress and Bucksin Dancers are the oldest and most traditional women's dances you'd see at a Powwow. The "jingles" were originally made from lids from sardine cans (of course, before   more...the fur trade they would have been made from shells or deer toes). Now, they are bought ready made as jingles, still carrying the embossing of the original tin lids. The Jingle dress dance is probably my favorite. The dancer dances vigorously and the jingles rattle in time to the music. The Buckskin dancers carry themselves with grace and poise and with an elegant posture while the long strands of their sleeves sway in time to their movements. Their costumes are beautifully beaded and show reagional differences in the type and amount of beading. They have a breastplate of bone and glass beads that can be waist or ankle length. They carry a fan in the right hand and usually carry their shawl over their left arm. The ladies here have theirs over their shoulders. I highly recommend visiting Powwows.com for more info on Powwows and for events in your area.  less

The Grand Entry of Dancers (usually led by Veterans or honoring veterans of wars) and demonstration of two categories of Powwow dancers - Men's Traditional (sometimes called Men's Northern Traditional)   more...and Women's Fancy Shawl Dance. There are usually divisions as well for boys and girls, as well. Sometimes even for tots, as well. Children take their dancing VERY seriously and are very proud to have participated in comeptitions at Powwows. Each category has a specific costume style and you can easily figure out who dances what type from their costume.  less

Pow wow and peaceful protest against uranium mining in Eastern Ontario.