Comments?
For the basics, see
- Website & Privacy Policies
- How To Get Involved
- The Role of the Park
Search options:
Department Site Map
Custodians:
Printer friendly version
posted October 5, 2004
A Pow Wow Story:
This year's Native Child and Family Services Children and Youth Pow Wow was as big and colourful as ever. The tipis were back, the ceremonial fire burned all day, the vendors ringed the dancing circle, and M.C. Steve Teekens, with his friendly chats into the mike, managed to make those of us who come from the north feel like we were right back there.
After the pow wow was done, and all the craft vendors had gone, the rented chairs had been taken away, and the ice cubes from the cooler boxes were slowly thawing in heaps on the grass, it took only about fifteen minutes for the Sudanese taxi drivers and their friends to reclaim the field for their Saturday evening soccer game. But at the side near the field house, a small group of women remained from the pow wow. They drummed and sang (the daytime drumming groups were male). When any of the soccer players scored a goal, the women would interrupt their song to cheer. Then they would resume singing.
After a while the chorus of their song became louder and easier to understand. It was: "<i>give me a double-double</i>," to the beat of the Indian drums. Then the singers would hoot with laughter and carry on singing. Tribal singing, African soccer, and Coffee Time, all at once, in the park.