"Record Crowds Attend Fair"

OHSWEKEN - Record crowds rewarded a major expansion of the Six Nations Fall Fair during the four-day event which ended Sunday.

With the additions of a pow-wow, outdoors exhibit and other features, this year's fair took a big leap forward.

"A sellout every day," president Les Sowden said Sunday.

"Last year we had a pretty good year, but this year is better. We've pulled near twice that of last year."

Biggest change was the addition of an two-day international-level powwow of traditional Indian dancing, singing and drumming. Prize money totalled more than $7,000.

More than 70 contestants from across Canada and the United States attended, despite four other major powwows being held at the same time across the continent.

The dancers, wearing full regalia, kept spectators enthralled.

"People who haven't come to the Ohsweken fair in years have come to the powwow," said official Joyce Pembleton.

"We want the powwow to become an annual thing with major prizes."

Craft booths around the powwow site were restricted to those selling authentic Indian crafts.

Another popular new feature was a sportsman show. It included wildlife and taxidermy exhibits, camping displays, demonstrations of the training of hunting dogs and the making of decoys, cooking demonstrations and, most popular of all, free samples of fresh cooked outdoor-style food, such as barbecued and smoked salmon, deep fried smelt, moose and venison meatloaf, roast moose, wild rice, and even sweet and sour moose.

"A lot of people commented that they would not have believed a little place like this could put on a display like this," said co-ordinator Jim Styres.

The fair also added a motocross competition that attracted more than 80 motorcyclists from across the province.

Regular events, such as the midway, harness races, demolition derby and chuck wagon races, drew crowds as usual.

Mr. Sowden said the bigger and better fair this year was a product of growing community involvement.

"Probably the reason for the expansion so fast is that the community has become involved and supports it," he said.

"We're looking to growing next year as well."