COMPETITION POW WOW

Come celebrate the Summer Solstice Indigenous Festival with the Pow Wow! Part of the National Indigenous Peoples Day activities in Ottawa, June 2022.

Don’t miss out! Drummers and Dancers from across the US and Canada will be competing for over $75,000 in prizes!

The Summer Solstice Indigenous Festival starts Tuesday June 21, 2022, with non-stop family programming…all FREE!

The Powwow starts Saturday June 25, 2022, with Grand Entry at 12:00pm, immediately followed by Intertribal Social Dancing and the Committee Specials. 

Committee Specials:

  • Glenn Matasawagon Memorial Chicken Dance Special (18+)
  • Marley Fairfield-Staats Jingle Dress Special (18+)
  • More specials to be announced!

Registration

Saturday June 25, 2022, 9:00am to 11:30am

Registration closes 11:30am Saturday June 25, 2022, in lieu of Drum Roll Call at 11:45am.

Grand Entries

Saturday June 25, 2022, 12:00pm & 11:30am

Sunday June 26, 2022, 12:00pm

 

Drum/Dance Contest: (Points start Saturday, June 25, 2022)

DRUM COMPETITION:

1st Place: $5,000 | 2nd Place: $4,000 | 3rd Place: $2,500 | 4th Place: $1,500
 
DANCE COMPETITION:
 
MEN’S & LADIES (60+ open) COMBINED CATEGORIES
1st Place: $1000 | 2nd Place: $800 | 3rd Place: $500
Sr. ADULT MEN’S & LADIES (40-59) TRADITIONAL, FANCY, GRASS & JINGLE
1st Place: $1000 | 2nd Place: $800 | 3rd Place: $500
Jr. ADULT MEN’S & LADIES (18-39) TRADITIONAL, FANCY, GRASS & JINGLE
1st Place: $1000 | 2nd Place: $800 | 3rd Place: $500
TEENS (13-17) TRADITIONAL, FANCY, GRASS & JINGLE
1st Place: $400 | 2nd Place: $300 | 3rd Place: $200
JUNIORS (6-12) TRADITIONAL, FANCY, GRASS & JINGLE
1st Place: $200 | 2nd Place: $150 | 3rd Place: $100
TINY TOTS paid daily (Sat/Sun) in full regalia (5yrs & under)
 

Staff

  • Host Drum: Black Bear
  • MC: Wes King
  • Co-MC: Whitney Recountre II
  • Head Drum Judge: Jeremy Doxtator
  • Head Dance Judge: Shady Hafez
  • All Tabulating done by: C&T Tabulating
  • Sound: Hokah Sound

MENS TRADITIONAL, GRASS, FANCY & WOMENS TRADITIONAL, JINGLE, FANCY SHAWL

Youth (17 and under) & Adults (18 +) categories                                                                                                      

1ST $500/ 2ND $300/ 3RD $200

SPECIALS – SMOKE & HOOP (ADULTS 18+)
1ST $500/ 2ND $300/ 3RD $200

DRUMS (SOLO) MENS AND WOMENS CATEGORIES
1ST $500/ 2ND $300/ 3RD $200

DRUM (GROUP) MENS AND WOMENS COMBINED
1ST $1000/ 2ND $750/ 3RD $500

All finalists (dancers) must perform to NEW and original songs produced especially for the Summer Solstice Indigenous Festival by multi-Grammy nominated Northern Cree.  

Finalist Performances will stream via Facebook Live @SummerSolsticeFestivals on Saturday & Sunday June 19th & June 20th. 12pm to 5pm EDT

HOST DRUM NORTHERN CREE
Northern Cree recorded NEW and ORIGINAL songs for the SSIF Pow Wow.
Northern Cree is a nine-time GRAMMY-nominated pow wow drum group from Treaty Six territory with 49 albums to their credit. The group was formed in 1982 by Charles Wood Jr., Earl Wood, Randy Wood, and Steve Wood. They started releasing music in 1991 and made history in 2017 when they became the first pow wow group to perform at the GRAMMY Awards ceremony in Los Angeles.

Northern Cree is led by Steve Wood and includes Joel Wood, Marlon Deschamps, Shane Dion, Marcus Denny, Leroy Whitstone, Marvin Deschamps, Jordon Fiddler, Emerson Samson, Penny McGilvery, Dezi Chocan, Randall Paskemin, Jamon Paskemin, Gilbert Buffalo, Desmond Redcalf, Jonas Tootoosis, Ben Cardinal, Kyle Pasquayak, Shaina McGilvery, and Jayzer Littlewolfe.

Since 1999, Northern Cree has earned a total of 44 nominations and 18 awards for their music.

Download their music here

“Brisket Burner” composed by Leroy Whitstone 

Men’s Traditional 2nd song

“Crow Style Double Beat”
composed by Marlon Deschamps

Women’s Traditional 2nd Song

 “Dunetown Dune”  composed by Leroy Whitstone

Men’s/Women’s Fancy 2nd Song

“Jingle Jam”  composed by Randall Paskemin

Women’s Jingle 2nd song 

“On The Spot”  composed by Marvin Deschamps

Men’s Traditional 2nd song

“Storytime Warriors”  composed by Leroy Whitstone

Men’s Grass

“Summer Sunset”  composed by Marvin Deschamps

Hoop Dance

JINGLE & GRASS

(Adults & Youth) Post Videos and vote until 8pm EST June 15

First Round Competitions: Competitors Post & Audience Votes @ Social Distance Pow Wow for the Top 5! 12pm EDT to 8pm EDT each day. Finalists announced by 10pm EDT. This style of dance is known as the healing dance. From a medicine man who had a vision for this dress adorned with many jingles as...

MENS and WOMENS TRADITIONAL

Adults & Youth- Post Videos and Vote until until 8pm EST June 16

First Round Competitions: Competitors Post & Audience Votes @ Social Distance Pow Wow for the Top 5! 12pm EDT to 8pm EDT each day. Finalists announced by 10pm EDT. Men’s Traditional – This dancer wears a single eagle feather bustle. The traditional dancer symbolizes a warrior in battle, hunting, gathering. They may hold dance sticks...

MENS, WOMENS & GROUPS POW WOW DRUM

Post videos & vote until 8pm EST June 17

First Round Competitions: Competitors Post & Audience Votes @ Social Distance Pow Wow for the Top 5! 12pm EDT to 8pm EDT each day. Finalists announced by 10pm EDT. Hand and Pow Wow Drumming are two of the categories in the Pow Wow Competition. The drums and dancers have many items that are considered sacred...

MENS & WOMENS FANCY (All ages)

Post Videos & Vote until 8pm EST June 18

First Round Competitions: Competitors Post & Audience Votes @ Social Distance Pow Wow for the Top 5! 12pm EDT to 8pm EDT each day. Finalists announced by 10pm EDT. Men’s Fancy Bustle - This dancer wears two very colourful bustles on his back and has the fastest style. Competition represents an endurance feat, flashy eye...

SPECIALS -Hoop & Smoke Dance (All ages)

Post videos & vote until 8pm EST June19

First Round Competitions: Competitors Post & Audience Votes @ Social Distance Pow Wow for the Top 5! 12pm EDT to 8pm EDT each day. Finalists announced by 10pm EDT.

Finalists – Top 5 each age group & category Day 1

Available On-Demand until June 30th

Finalists – Top 5 each age group & category – Second Round – June 19 & 20 All finalists (dancers) submit to the Northern Cree songs provided. NEW and original music produced by multi-Grammy nominated Northern Cree for SSIF Pow Wow. Saturday June 19th – 12pm to 5pm on Facebook Live Sunday June 20th -12pm...

Finalists – Top 5 each age group & category Day 2

Available On-Demand until June 30th

All finalists (dancers) submit to the Northern Cree songs provided. NEW and original music produced by multi-Grammy nominated Northern Cree for SSIF Pow Wow. Saturday June 19th – 12pm to 5pm on Facebook Live Sunday June 20th -12pm to 5pm on Facebook Live and Winners announced! PRIZES same as listed below from 2020 with addition...

Other Events

  • JINGLE & GRASS

    First Round Competitions: Competitors Post & Audience Votes @ Social Distance Pow Wow for the Top 5! 12pm EDT to 8pm EDT each day. Finalists announced by 10pm EDT. This style of dance is known as the healing dance. From a medicine man who had a vision for this dress adorned with many jingles as...

    June 14, 2021 @ 12:00 pm - June 15, 2021 @ 8:00 pm
  • MENS and WOMENS TRADITIONAL

    First Round Competitions: Competitors Post & Audience Votes @ Social Distance Pow Wow for the Top 5! 12pm EDT to 8pm EDT each day. Finalists announced by 10pm EDT. Men’s Traditional – This dancer wears a single eagle feather bustle. The traditional dancer symbolizes a warrior in battle, hunting, gathering. They may hold dance sticks...

    June 15, 2021 @ 12:00 pm - June 16, 2021 @ 10:00 pm
  • MENS, WOMENS & GROUPS POW WOW DRUM

    First Round Competitions: Competitors Post & Audience Votes @ Social Distance Pow Wow for the Top 5! 12pm EDT to 8pm EDT each day. Finalists announced by 10pm EDT. Hand and Pow Wow Drumming are two of the categories in the Pow Wow Competition. The drums and dancers have many items that are considered sacred...

    June 16, 2021 @ 12:00 pm - June 17, 2021 @ 8:00 pm
  • MENS & WOMENS FANCY (All ages)

    First Round Competitions: Competitors Post & Audience Votes @ Social Distance Pow Wow for the Top 5! 12pm EDT to 8pm EDT each day. Finalists announced by 10pm EDT. Men’s Fancy Bustle - This dancer wears two very colourful bustles on his back and has the fastest style. Competition represents an endurance feat, flashy eye...

    June 17, 2021 @ 12:00 pm - June 18, 2021 @ 8:00 pm
  • SPECIALS -Hoop & Smoke Dance (All ages)

    First Round Competitions: Competitors Post & Audience Votes @ Social Distance Pow Wow for the Top 5! 12pm EDT to 8pm EDT each day. Finalists announced by 10pm EDT.

    June 18, 2021 @ 12:00 pm - June 19, 2021 @ 8:00 pm
  • Finalists – Top 5 each age group & category Day 1

    Finalists – Top 5 each age group & category – Second Round – June 19 & 20 All finalists (dancers) submit to the Northern Cree songs provided. NEW and original music produced by multi-Grammy nominated Northern Cree for SSIF Pow Wow. Saturday June 19th – 12pm to 5pm on Facebook Live Sunday June 20th -12pm...

    June 19, 2021 @ 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm
  • Finalists – Top 5 each age group & category Day 2

    All finalists (dancers) submit to the Northern Cree songs provided. NEW and original music produced by multi-Grammy nominated Northern Cree for SSIF Pow Wow. Saturday June 19th – 12pm to 5pm on Facebook Live Sunday June 20th -12pm to 5pm on Facebook Live and Winners announced! PRIZES same as listed below from 2020 with addition...

    June 20, 2021 @ 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm