Niawen

The Akwesasne Powwow Committee would like to thank the community of Akwesasne for coming out and generously welcoming our many vendors, dancers, drummers and guests who traveled from near and far to attend the 17th Annual Akwesasne International Powwow.

We were honored to host 290 dancers who danced to the beat of 7 drum groups, while the Iroquois Smoke Dancers danced to the drum and voice of Solon Spruce. The opportunity to come together and gather in friendship and peace are a result of the Veterans who fought for our freedom, thus we honour their commitment by placing them front and center in our Grand Entry ceremony. To all of our Vets, we say Niawen!

The cultural sharing that our special guests brought to us throughout the weekend was amazing. Niawen to Kakwiranoron Cook for introducing the Whakatõpū Kotahi Maori Haka Group to us.

With thanks to the Akwesasne Community Partnership Fund, we were able to work with Cornwall Transit, the Three Nations Bridge Authority and CBSA, who supported and worked with the Akwesasne Powwow Committee to be able to offer a free bus shuttle service from Cornwall to the Powwow grounds. The feedback was positive from our traveling guests, and we hope to offer this service again next year.

As a committee, we would like to thank the people who provided various levels of support: The American Legion Veterans who honored us by posting their colors, the White Family and the Point Family for the use of their land for overflow parking, Stanley Thompson, Kahnastatsi and the A’nowarako:wa Arena staff, Core-Mark International Inc. for their donation of water for our dancers & drummers, Lazare Tree Service for firewood, Akwesasne Mohawk Ambulance Unit, AMPS, MCA Department of Technical Services, D&R Disposal, BMO staff for manning the admission gates, members of Red Drum Motorcycle Club, the Three Nations Bridge, and our local high school students who volunteered their time to help keep our grounds clean and were valuable in assisting anyone who needed assistance. If we failed to mention you, please accept our apologies, as it is not our intention to leave anyone out, but we hope the positive feelings you get from helping others, be our thanks.

We are grateful to our area businesses who buy ads in our program book and to our loyal sponsors who continue to contribute to the success of the powwow every year.

Niawen’ko:wa to our:

Wampum Sponsor: Akwesasne Community Partnership consisting of Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe, Mohawk Bingo Palace & Akwesasne Mohawk Casino.

Platinum Sponsors: BMO Financial Group, Mohawk Council of Akwesasne, Ontario Power Generation, Upper Canada District School Board and the Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario.

Corporate Sponsors: Akwesasne Convenience Store Association, Tarbell Management Group, Truck Stop #9 & #9 Fuels, CAA Management, Indian Time Newspaper, CKON 97.3 FM Radio, Dr. Dan Hovsepian, Scotiabank, Dr. Rachel Navaneelan, Telus & Bell Mobility.

Friends of the Powwow/Jr. Dance Sponsors: Akwesasne Mini Mart, Lazore Construction, Brass Horse, and Julia Back & Family.

To put on an event of this magnitude, a lot of reliability is placed upon our many local sponsors and volunteers who come forward and help support Akwesasne’s growing cultural event. Once again, Niawen’ko:wa to everyone who came out and enjoyed themselves at the 17th Annual Akwesasne International Powwow.