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The Royal Proclamation is critical in terms of Indigenous rights in Canada. It acknowledged the sovereignty of Indigenous Nations. The following year it was ratified in the Treaty of Niagara and is symbolized by the Wampum Belt, representing mutual peace, respect and non-interference between Nations (Hele, 2021). Powwows, while not directly mentioned in the Treaty, are a powerful representation of Indigenous sovereignty which the treaty is meant to protect.
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Rooted in the Algonquin language pau wau meaning “he dreams” was later Anglesized to Powwow. The powwow was originally a spiritual ceremony. Pre-contact powwow-like gatherings were fluid- integrating spiritual and social dimensions. They helped maintain kinship bonds, oral history, sons and dances. They honored spiritual responsibility to the land. (Harper, n.d.)
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Northern Plains First Nations helped shape powwow traditions, with early gatherings influenced by the fur trade and Métis culture. Powwows became spaces for sharing music, dance, and stories, and for building intertribal unity. The Red River Rebellion, led by Louis Riel, reflected Métis and Indigenous resistance to colonial control. Singing and dancing affirmed spiritual sovereignty and created spaces for cultural pride, resistance, and creative responses to imposed systems(Foot Bumsted, 2016)
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The Reserve system under the Indian Act displaced Indigenous peoples from their homelands, often isolating them from vital resources and spiritual sites. Designed to separate nations and enforce cultural control (Parrott, n.d.) reserves faced hardship and surveillance. Yet they became places where languages, ceremonies, and traditions like powwows were preserved. Powwows grew even more important, affirming kinship, spirituality, and social unity in the face of colonial pressure.
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Residential schools removed over 150,000 Indigenous children from their families and communities for more than a century (Morin, 2023). These schools suppressed Indigenous languages, beliefs, and ceremonies, aiming to replace them with Euro-Canadian values. Elders feared teaching, and children felt shame in learning (BigEagle, 2025). This broke the chain of cultural transmission, deeply disrupting the training and continuation of powwow traditions.
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For over 60 years, Canadian law banned powwows and ceremonies. Regalia was hidden or changed to avoid punishment (Red Deer Mag and Art Gallery, n.d.). Enforcement varied—some officials ignored the bans, others enforced them strictly. Many nations held powwows in secret. These underground gatherings became acts of resistance and remembrance, showing spiritual strength and unity through shared struggle and creative survival (Cedarvia Group, n.d.).
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After WWII, Indigenous veterans returned home with new awareness of global freedoms and demanded the right to practice their cultures. In 1951, Canada amended the Indian Act, removing bans on ceremonies like potlatches, sun dances, and powwows (Ebsco Knowledge Advantage, 2023). This marked a turning point. Powwows began to re-emerge, offering space for healing and education, both within Indigenous communities and for the wider public.
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Powwows evolved from survival to cultural pride and renewal. A professional powwow “trail” emerged, with traditional and competitive events, dance contests, craft markets, and workshops (Powwow! Celebrate Indigenous Culture, n.d.). These gatherings supported intertribal exchange and shared customs. Powwows became key to healing, restoring identity, and reconnecting communities after years of assimilation, while also gaining global attention and wider participation.
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Powwows are now public, cross-cultural events with growing non-Indigenous participation. Many Canadians see them as chances to learn, celebrate Indigenous culture, and support reconciliation (Morin, 2023). Powwows include education, protocol guidance, and intertribal dances. Yet challenges like appropriation and commercialization remain. Organizers respond with education and careful planning (Powwow! Celebrate Indigenous Culture, n.d.). Powwows now promote rights, sovereignty, and understanding.
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Powwows now welcome Indigenous and non-Indigenous guests, boosting local economies and supporting Indigenous businesses (Saskatchewan Polytechnic, 2023). Urban powwows like Mādahòkì Farm in Ottawa help reconnect city-based Indigenous people with their culture and educate others (Madahoki Farm, n.d.). While powwows create jobs, they also raise concerns about commercialization. Many organizers use nonprofit models to protect tradition and focus on community (Impact Report 2025, 2025).
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Climate change is affecting Indigenous communities, especially in northern and coastal areas, disrupting travel, infrastructure, and seasonal gatherings that support powwow culture (Government of Canada, 2016).Organizers are adapting, blending tradition with science to support ceremony, education, and climate action. During COVID-19, virtual powwows and online sharing showed resilience and sparked deeper conversations about health, environment, and community strength (Impact Report 2025, 2025).