The Calgary Library is giving Calgarians an exciting chance to immerse themselves in Indigenous culture by teaching them the etiquette of attending a powwows through a Powwow Trail 101 drop-in day program.

The first all-ages program will take place on Wednesday, July 24 at the Forest Lawn Library at 11 a.m., and will be presented by Alberta’s first female powwow emcee, Autumn Eaglespeaker.

The focus of the first demonstration will be on Tssut’ina Powwows.

The series is aimed at educating people on the dos and don’ts of attending a powwow.  

Some of the things people can expect to learn is when it is appropriate to take photos, when to ask permission, the different terminology used at powwows, and what to expect when they plan to attend. 

“Powwow 101 will teach people to avoid these little nuances so they can have a really good experience,” says Kelli Morning Bull, Service Design Lead for the Calgary Public Library and a Piikani filmmaker.

“We really want to be the bests hosts as possible and so by ensuring that people have this information ahead of time they can be set up for success.”

Powwow Trail 101 sessions will also be held on July 31 at the Saddletowne Library with a focus on Pikani Powwows, and on August 28 at the Crowfoot Library with a focus on Îethka Stoney Nakoda Powwows.

Helping Calgarians visit the ‘Powwow Trail’

The ‘Powwow Trail’ is a string of hundreds of powwows that take place during summertime across Northern America.

Treaty 7 has five powwows that are a part of Powwow Trail with the Siksika, Kainai, Tsuut’ina, Piikani, and lethka Stoney Nakoda Powwows.  

For some visitors wanting to take visit the events, a lack of signage finding the reserves has in the past made that tricky.

As part of the Powwow Trail 101 demonstrations, the Calgary Public Library created a double-sided map with a list of libraries hosting Powwow Trail 101 demonstrations on one side, and on the flip side, a map of Treaty 7 locations where each of the powwows are taking place.

The opportunity is special for non-indigenous folks who are not typically allowed on the reserve, to go celebrate and learn about indigenous culture. 

Morning Bull encourages non-indigenous families to attend Powwow 101 and educate themselves on Powwows and indigenous culture and furthermore take that education and attend some of the Powwows.

“You can really see the enthusiasm in the kids and these core memories that are hopefully being instilled in them that powwows are a good thing and something they can be involved in,” Morning Bull said.

“We want to encourage that cultural exchange with indigenous folks and people in Calgary who are interested.” 

For more information on Powwow Trail 101 and other Indigenous programs check the Calgary Library’s programs on their website.