‘The culture has to stay alive’: Participants say sharing community is what makes Kamloopa Powwow special

KAMLOOPS — The 43rd annual edition of the Kamloopa Powwow took place this weekend at the Tk’emlups Powwow Arbour. One of the largest in the country, the event featured three days full of music, dance and competition — but most importantly, it was filled with fun.

“A lot of people just love dancing in general. They’ve been doing it for years and they come to dance. They don’t even have to compete — you can just go out there and have the fun you want,” said Patrisha Louis, dancer competing in the Teen Girls Traditional category.

“I met a few people who didn’t know how to dance. They were invited to come up to dance and they did — they just did their own movements to the dance. But it’s participating in something new,” added Dorothy Joseph, who was competing in the Golden Age category.

Arcelia Garcia, who says she has lost count of many time she has competed, explained why she does it.

“It’s my culture, and for my grandma and my ancestors who didn’t make it during residential school. That’s why I compete.”

Calvin Hyzims, Hereditary Chief of Kitwanga First Nation, who came for the Kamloopa Powwow for the first time, believes the event has a great importance for First Nations.

“The culture has to stay alive in order for the nation to survive,” he said.

Louis believes it can also be a time of healing.

“When the drum hosts play, you can really listen to the beat of it and your heartbeat matches it. And that’s why a lot of people dance — because it’s part of healing, basically, from hearing the drums and the singers,” she explained.

“Some of them are very troubled and they come out and they heal. Some of them are battling, they come out and they heal,” added Hyzims.

Even though they are there to compete and there are prizes and money at stake, Joseph said it is not the most important aspect of the event.

“[It} doesn’t matter if I win or not. It’s just being there and dancing and being with the rest of the people,” she said.

And they all encourage everyone, from all cultures, to go and check it out.

“We all want everyone to come. It is very enjoyable sharing the drums, the singing, the dancers and everything. And it would be very grateful,” Louis said.