"Thousands enjoy annual powwow despite blazing heat"

Scorching hot weather did not stop thousands of people from all over the world coming to the 37th annual Six Nations of the Grand River Champion of Champions Powwow over the weekend.

Ice cubes melted as soon as they were taken out of coolers, water bottles were like a third appendage as spectators and dancers alike sought to keep themselves hydrated and the bleachers featured a sea of umbrellas to shade guests from the blazing sun.

But, as a testament to their amazing physical conditioning, the broiling heat did not faze hundreds of dancers who lit the arena ablaze with their colourful regalia, fancy footwork and intricate moves.

For the first time in the powwow's history, there was a four-way tie for the Champion of Champions winner.

The winners were Debbie Plain, Avery Sutherland, Bodie Nordwall and Ascension Harjo.

The Crazy Spirits drum group won first place in the drummer category.

Winners shared $28,450 in prize money for taking home first, second, third or fourth place in 10 categories, including:

• Golden age (50 and over) male: traditional, grass/fancy female: traditional, jingle/fancy
• Adult (18-49) male: traditional, grass, fancy female: traditional, jingle, fancy
• Teen (13-17) male: traditional, grass, fancy female: traditional, jingle, fancy
• Kids (6-12) male: traditional, grass, fancy female: traditional, jingle, fancy
• Chicken dance, male
• Best drum

The powwow kicked off with the procession of the Six Nations Veteran's Association and the head dancer carrying the sacred eagle staff for placement in the center of the arena before competitions got underway Saturday.

The male fancy dancers were a vision in bright, colourful regalia and elaborate feather bustles, while the tiny tots, as always, charmed the crowd in their adorable regalia, some standing solitary in the arena with trepid looks on their faces, while others danced and hopped their way about the arena, thrilled to be the center of attention.

The female jingle dress dancers carried a regal aura while the female shawl dancers had audiences mesmerized with their twirling, butterfly-like movements.

Over 100 vendors were spread under a shaded canopy of trees in the open-air market, while thousands of visitors perused the unique and intricate items available from the talented artists and craftspeople.

The Turtle Island News booth was especially popular as the paper handed out thousands of copies of both our weekly paper and our Discover Six Nations Tourism Guide, with plenty of information on powwow etiquette, different dance styles and the differences between types of regalia.

The paper also gave away a complete campsite, with thousands of entrants in our special draw, with Barb Terry of Hamilton winning a tent, solar panel, plug-in coolers, tiki light torches and camping chairs.