2022 Akwesasne International Powwow

One of the North Country's largest cultural events returned this past weekend after a two-year hiatus. The ritual and solemnness of the Akwesasne International Powwow 2022 Grand Entry started at noon under a dazzling sunny sky. This kicked off a full weekend of drummers and dancers dressed in traditional clothing and powwow regalia. Artisans offering one-of-a-kind handmade items and powwow food vendors serving Indigenous specialties filled the grounds of the A'nowara'ko:wa Arena on Kawehno:ke. The Powwow was host to drum groups from across Turtle Island and visitors numbering in the thousands on Saturday and Sunday.

"A powwow is a gathering of many nations in celebration," said Romaine Mitchell, a member of the Akwesasne Powwow organizing committee. "Within indigenous communities there are unique components within each nation. It's an opportunity for individuals to learn more about First Nations culture and the event becomes a whole learning experience."

"The artisans are always eager to share their knowledge and discuss how they made their wares," said Mitchell.

Cornwall Transit offered a free shuttle to the A'nowara'ko:wa Arena, the shuttle departed from two different locations – the Aquatic Centre and the Walmart – Smart Centers Plaza throughout Saturday and Sunday.

The 2022 Akwesasne International Powwow reached a milestone of celebrating twenty years and at the same time organizers expressed uncertainty for next year's powwow in their thank you letter, "We are unsure at this time who your powwow committee will be for future Akwesasne powwows."

Those are big shoes to fill, twenty years ago Larry King, along with Bonnie and Romaine Mitchell pulled together the first Akwesasne powwow. With support from long standing sponsors and supporters they made their twentieth powwow a huge success.

WINNERS LIST

SR. WOMEN JINGLE

1st-Jennifer Martin-Six Nations

2nd-Tiffany Plain-Cree

3rd-Christina Retoule-Kitchener

SR. WOMEN FANCY

1st-Celina Cada-Matasawagon-Ojibwe

2nd-Lynn Smoke-Alderville

3rd-Christina Phillips-Kahnawake

SR. MEN TRADITIONAL

1st-Will Hedgepath-Windsor

2nd-Adnan Klein-Windsor

3rd-Jonathan Yellowhead-Whitefish Bay

SR. MEN GRASS

1st-Frazer Sundown-Oneida

2nd-Dayle Matawawagon-Ojibwe

SR. MEN FANCY

1st-Stephen Mapachee-Algonquin

JR. MEN TRADITIONAL

1st-Mckenzie Ottereyes-Wawanipi

2nd-Shady Hafez-Kitigen Zibi

3rd-Jeff Plain-Petawawa

JR. MEN GRASS

1st-Dom Watson-Hanover,PA

2nd-Clayton Hedgepath-Oneida

3rd-Theland Kicknosway-Ottawa

JR. MEN FANCY

1st-Ascension Harjo-Six Nations

2nd-Scott Sixkiller Sinquah-Arizona

3rd-Liam Sands-Plains Cree/Ojibway/Oneida

JR. MEN SMOKE

1st-Frank Nesaw-Gowanda

2nd-Tekahentake Regis-Kahnawake

3rd-Atsenhakeniate Lazore-Kahnawake

SR. WOMEN TRADITIONAL

1st-Jasmine Phillips

2nd-Samantha Spruce-London, ON

3rd-Tonia Marshall-Nova Scotia

TEEN MEN SMOKE

1st-Shakorennawis Swamp-Ohsweken

2nd-Teioronhiathe Phillips-Onondaga

JR. WOMEN TRADITIONAL

1st-Darien Skyy-London, ON

2nd-Brooklyn Sawyer-North Bay

3rd-Jaelynn Smoke-London, ON

JR. WOMEN JINGLE

1st-Samantha Miller-Haggersville

2nd-Laniya Antone-London

3rd-Shaillee Sandy-Six Nations

JR. WOMEN FANCY

1st-Nikki Dasher

2nd-Cedar Smoke-Alderulle

3rd-Ninah Hermiston-Walpole Island

JR. WOMEN SMOKE

1st-Emily Regis

2nd-Monique Powless

3rd-Jamison Cathers-Oneida

TEEN WOMEN FANCY

1st-Keysha Two-Axe-Pikwakanagan

2nd-Anaiyah Good-Ojibwe

3rd-Nya Barnes-Akwesasne

TEEN WOMEN SMOKE

1st-Kyleea Johnson-Onondaga

2nd-Watetshensheriiostha Thompson-Kahnawake

3rd-Iakorennaientatie Alfred-Mohawk

4th-Isabelle Wilson-Akwesasne

TEEN MEN TRADITIONAL

1st-Ethan Warner-Six Nations

2nd-Sikonik Boivin-Wemotaci

TEEN MEN GRASS

1st-Tristan Dreaver-Ottawa

BOYS GRASS

1st-Lennon Bosco

BOYS FANCY

1st-Caleb Copegog-Rama

BOYS SMOKE

1st-Tehanonsakahnion Thompson-Akwesasne

2nd-Haonh'anjyana:werih Shenandoah-Akwesasne

3rd-Jordan Thomas-Akwesasne

4th-Roriwakaien Lazoew-Akwesasne

TEEN WOMEN TRADITIONAL

1st-Rylon Bomberry-Six Nations

2nd-Marie Snake O'Reilly-Peterborough

3rd-Clarity Smoke-Alderville

TEEN WOMEN JINGLE

1st-Tilia Skye-Ohsweken

2nd-Kylie Twoaxe-Pikwakangans

3rd-Sierra Doxtator-Oneida

GIRLS TRADITIONAL

1st-Rayah Doxtator-London

2nd-Mya Beaudry-Kitiganzibi

GIRLS JINGLE

1st-Tewasohkwatenies Jacobs-Akwesasne

2nd-Gena Sinopole-Sarnia

3rd-Brynlee Warner-Six Nations

4th-Iehnekanoron Thompson-Akwesasne

GIRLS FANCY

1st-Violet Sutherland-Whitefish River

2nd-Ayah Hafez-Sarazin-Algonquin

3rd-Brynlee Warner-Six Nations

4th-Emma Jacobs-Kahnawake

GIRLS SMOKE

1st-Xyleigh 'Yake:yale' Jimerson-Akwesasne

2nd-Sakyrii 'Shayes' Jimerson-Akwesasne

3rd-Tsiawentiron Mitchell-Akwesasne

4th-Carmen Cathers-Akwesasne

BOYS TRADITIONAL

1st-Mateo Smoke-Six Nations

2nd-Jaxson Papatie-Algonquin

3rd-Hazyn Mathias-Kahnawake

WOMEN GOLDEN AGE

COMBINED

1st-Maretta Sutherland-Whitefish River

2nd-Eileen Rourke-Akwesasne

3rd-Pat Smoke-Alderville First Nations

4th-Bonnie Cole-Akwesasne

MEN GOLDEN AGE COMBINED

1st-Bruce Smoke-Alderville

2nd-Mike Dashner-Walpole Island

3rd-Gilles Moar-Manawan

4th-Larry White-Akwesasne

SR. WOMEN SMOKE

1st-Jada Hopper

2nd-Kakwireiosta Hall-Akwesasne

3rd-Janet Johnson-Akwesasne

SR. MEN SMOKE

1st-DJ White-Akwesasne

2nd-Will Mitchell-Toronto

3rd- Dane Garrow-Akwesasne