Pow Wow Gathering set for Saturday at Silver Lake Provincial Park

Jeff Green | Aug 24, 2022

After two years of COVID and continuing concerns about planning events during pandemic outbreaks, the organisers of the Silver Lake Pow Wow met earlier this year to see if they could bring the Pow Wow back, after a two-year hiatus.

Trudy Knapp, a founding organiser of the Pow Wow, who still has a central role, said that another concern was the number of volunteers needed to put on a two day Pow Wow.

In the end, the decision was taken to seek a middle ground. Organising a full Pow Wow was too much, but going a third year without a late summer community gathering was not acceptable. 

So a one-day Pow Wow gathering, for one year only, taking place from 12 noon to 5pm at Silver Lake Provincial Park was the way to go.

“Once we had made that decision, everything has fallen into place. Some grant money was made available from the Algonquins of Ontario to cover park rental costs, and other costs are lower, so we are able to offer admission for free, with a request for donations,” she said. 

There will be drumming, speakers, and vendors on hand, and the elder for the gathering will be Larry McDermott, who has been the elder at the Pow Wow for a number of years.

At 5pm there will be a cold feast.

“We have had a great response from people who have enjoyed the Pow Wow over the years, and we are hoping to see many of the friends we have not seen since 2019, to re-connect with each other. As a group, we are looking for, and starting to see, some new, younger volunteers, and we also hope this gathering will help us rejuvenate as a group, and be able to put on the Pow Wow next year and in years to come. Those are our two goals this year, to bring everyone together and pave the way for the future. 

Since the gathering was announced, vendors have expressed interest in attending and a vendor market will be a feature of the gathering.

“We did not expect to see vendors for a one-day event as they are usually following the Pow Wow Trail to two-day events or more, but we have been approached by people wanting to come for the day, and we are happy to offer them space,” said Knapp.

Last minute preparations are now underway, and the Pow Wow gathering will be ready, late on Saturday, for the Pow Wow grounds at Silver Lake Park to fill up. The gathering is accessed through the park gates. A fee to enter the Park will be charged by park staff. The fee is $12.25 including tax for one person in a vehicle, rising to $20 for four adults in one vehicle. Prices are lower for seniors.

For further information, contact Trudy Knapp at 613-375-6356