Oromocto celebrates first pow wow in 30 years

Oromocto hosted the first Wel-a-mook-took Pow Wow to take place in 30 years Saturday.

Hundreds celebrated on the Oromocto River andmany in attendance had never been to a pow wow hosted in their hometown.

Ann Paul of St. Mary's First Nationattended the pow wow, dressed from head to toe in traditional clothing she made herself.

Dancing a crucial part

"I was actually going to go to another pow wow, and my son was telling me about this one. And I was like,these guys haven't had a pow wow in so long. I wanted to come and support them.

"If there's no dancers, there's no pow wow right so that's the reason why I came."

Her son has been teaching local schoolchildren how to dance for the last year.

"It's important. They need to see this, they need to not forget who they are."

Reunitingcommunity

A fractured community and disinterest in some traditions are being blamed for the long stretch without a pow wow in Oromocto.

But elders and community members have worked for the past year to bring back the event after being dormant for so long.

Chief Shelly Sabattis says she's hoping this will motivatethe community for generations to come.

"We are teaching the children that this is a sacred area now, and to respect it as such and there's really no problem with that because we came together as a community to make this happen."

Reviving cultural traditions

She's vowing that it will not be another 30 years before the next pow wow. Plans are already coming together to host an even bigger event next year, the chief said.

"We want our language back, we want our culture back and we want our kids to have a part of that."