1st women’s singing category held at B.C.’s 4th annual Stalew Powwow

It was the first time many have seen an all-women’s singing category across the international powwow trail, these powwow singers say.

The 4th annual Stalew Powwow held a Women’s Singing Special in Langley, B.C., last weekend.

Raven Wood, a powwow singer and dancer, said the event shone a light on the importance of women’s voices.

“We have daughters now [and] we just wanted to always encourage women and young girls … to not be scared to sing, to [not] be scared to share your voice in any way necessary,” said Wood.

The event was shared and celebrated across social media, and sparked many discussions around different teachings when it comes to women singers and drummers in powwow.

Eight groups  from across Canada and the U.S. competed in the category: Rose Creek, Southern Thunderbird, Tron Spirit, Binesi Ikewag, High Water, Eagle Valley, Shadow Mountain and Fire Star.

Eagle Valley took home first place with a cash prize and a custom pink drum, sticks and drum stand donated by Tribal Spirit Drums.

“Here in B.C., women are drum keepers and stuff but … some territories, they don’t allow their women to even touch the drum,” said Wood.

“There’s always been women singers but throughout residential school and like the European way of thinking… it was really separated.”

Raven Wood’s sister Fawn Wood, and her sister’s husband Dallas Waskahat, hosted the category.

Fawn Wood, a Juno Award-winning powwow singer and a back-up singer in Waskahat’s group, Cree Confederation, said it was her husband who surprised her with the idea.

He wanted to uplift Wood’s grandmother, Florence Thomas — whose traditional name is Quay-Na-Wjt. She is the drum keeper for what Wood says is the oldest powwow group in B.C., the Fraser Valley singers.

“We were at the Stalew Powwow last year and we won…  he didn’t even discuss it with me yet, but he got it announced and on behalf of myself and him and our group that we wanted to sponsor an all-women singing contest,” said Fawn Wood.

“I was like, I don’t know if it’s been done. He’s like, ‘Well, you know what? Just seeing your grandma and how she carries herself around that drum ….’ He just really wanted to honour her.”

Setbacks outside of B.C.

Quay-Na-Wjt said Fraser Valley singers has been around since 1966, but she took over as drum keeper in 1998 from her late husband, Robert Thomas Jr.

“When I took over … I said, ‘Oh my goodness, I’m gonna be a drum keeper,” Quay-Na-Wjt said.

“I got to take care of songs. I got take care of teaching singers and all that goes with it.” 

Over the years Fraser Valley singers have experienced setbacks outside of B.C. while attempting to enter some powwows due to being a group with women, said Quay-Na-Wjt.

“A little bit of shun, not too bad, but they let us in,” said Quay-Na-Wjt.

“One director explained to the staff that this drum group has been singing all their life in B.C. and it wouldn’t be right to turn them away. He had a meeting with his staff while I went in grand entry with my daughters and singers and he came back and he had a drum number for us.”

More in the future

Phyllis Atkins, whose traditional name is q̓ʷɑt̓ic̓ɑ, is the manager of the Stalew Arts and Culture Society that holds the Stalew Powwow and said the event was a success. 

“We’re an Indigenous women-led organization and because of that, you know, honouring and uplifting other Indigenous women is part of who Stalew is,” said q̓ʷɑt̓ic̓ɑ.

“I think it would be really amazing if we could continue doing this [in the] future, like even next year, if possible.”

Quay-na-Wjt said there are lots of questions from “outside the circle” about women singers, but she has a reminder for the powwow community.

“It was a fun powwow; we enjoyed ourselves,” Quay-na-Wjt said.

“But you know how they say the voice comes from the women’s spirit. It’s exactly true.”