Culture and heritage was on display at Ottawa’s Summer Solstice Indigenous Festival

Sounds of chanting and drumming echoed through Wesley Clover Parks over the weekend as thousands of people from across Ottawa celebrated both the Summer Solstice and National Indigenous Peoples Day. 

The Summer Solstice Indigenous Festival, put on by Indigenous Experiences on behalf of the National Indigenous People’s Day Committee, hosted a variety of different activities and vendors including a competition Pow Wow. 

“It’s really just a day for us to celebrate our culture and community. This event is all about welcoming in the families and the public to share in that celebration with us,” said Trina Simard, CEO of Indigenous experiences and producer of the Summer Solstice Indigenous Festival, according to CTV. 

Hundreds of Indigenous dancers and their families from different nations travelled to Ottawa to compete in the Pow Wow. 

Donna Pinnance and her family drove five and a half hours Saturday morning to take part in the weekend festivities. While Donna helped pin up her daughter Hailee’s regalia, she explained that she had stopped dancing when she was 12. Now 52, she was able to reconnect with dance through her children. 

“It’s important they learn their culture," she said. 

Donna competed in the Golden Age Fancy category while both her son and daughter competed in the teen categories. 

Deanne Hupfield and her daughter Niimin compete almost every weekend at Pow Wow’s across Canada and the U.S. Next weekend, they are headed to Wisconsin. 

A powwow is a vibrant celebration of Indigenous culture, featuring singing, dancing, regalia, food, and crafts. It's a social and spiritual gathering that brings generations together to honor traditions, build community, and express Indigenous identity. 

This year would be the first time Niimin competed in the 'teen category’ where she said “there’s more competition.” When Deanne was pregnant with Niimin, she said she used to dance in her stomach. 

“Her name means dance,” she said. “She’s been dancing since she was six years old.” 

The Summer Solstice Festivals is more than just a place to watch dance performances.. It also aims to promote the importance of Indigenous culture and their people's resilience after centuries of hardship. 

Deanne studied Indigenous Governance in university and realized after studying the Indian Act that many of the issues Indigenous people face were a result of the removal of their land. Deanne’s back regalia read “Land Back” in intricate beading. 

For most, the Pow Wow competition was a family affair. Muluk Babian first brought her daughter Nibi to the Summer Solstice Festival last year when she was four-months-old. Now, at the age of 16 months, Muluk had to hold Nibi back as she attempted to dance her way onto the competition grounds. 

“She’ll have her regalia next year,” said Muluk as they watched Nibi’s father Bear Babian compete in the men’s tradition. 

For the competition dancers, this year’s Pow Wow promised $75,000 in potential winnings through Saturday and Sunday. This money was split between both the dancers and the drummers who were also competing this weekend. 

Families gathered outside the Pow Wow grounds to watch the celebration stage, where acts such as Chanelle Monroe, a Métis magician, performed. Behind the crowd, a few dozen vendors set up booths with offerings ranging from jewelry, clothes, moccasins, and beads. 

In years past, the event was held at Mādahòkì Farms. This year, Mādahòkì brought a few of their Ojibwe Spirit horses to Wesley Clover for festival goers to meet. The horses are endangered and are the only known Indigenous horse in Canada.