Powwow season begins in N.B. this weekend

Powwow season officially kicked off in N.B. over the weekend, with one large gathering that marked a big milestone.

Powwow season officially begins in New Brunswick this weekend, with a big milestone on Sitansisk (St. Mary’s) First Nation.

Sitansisk’s annual community powwow is marking 25 years, with a schedule of dancing and drumming over three days around the St. Mary’s Old Reserve.

“We’ve actually grown our powwow grounds,” said co-ordinator Nicole Carty. “It’s really nice to see how big we’ve gotten over the years.”

Friday night’s schedule was capped off with fireworks, while Saturday afternoon’s grand entry included more than 250 registered dancers in the powwow circle.

“It’s a time to showcase, and a time to honour the land… honour the sky, and honour each other,” said Carty.

Sitansisk is the first of 12 stops on New Brunswick ‘powwow trail’ between now and October, with everybody welcome.

“It’s about unity,” said Sitansisk Chief Alan Polchies Jr. “It’s about coming together and knowing that our language, our culture is still here and still thriving.”

New Brunswick’s 2025 powwow schedule:

• June 14 - 15: Sitansisk (St. Mary’s), St. Mary’s Old Reserve
• July 5 - 6: Oinpegitjoig L’Noeigati (Pabineau), Flying Eagle Memorial Powwow Grounds
• July 12 - 13: Welamukotuk (Oromocto), Sir Douglas Hazen Park
• July 19 - 20: Natoaganeg (Eel Ground), Natoaganeg Powwow Grounds
• July 26 - 27: Neqotkuk (Tobique), Mudwaas Park
• July 26 - 27: Metepenagiag (Red Bank), Metepenagiag Heritage Park
• Aug. 16 - 17: Ugpi’ganjig (Eel River Bar), Aboriginal Heritage Garden
• Aug. 23 - 24: Esgenoôpetitj (Burnt Church), Esgenoôpetitj Powwow Grounds
• Aug. 30 - 31: Elsipogtog (Big Cove), Elsipogtog Powwow Grounds
• Sept. 6 - 7: Tjipogtotjg (Bouctouche), Bouctouche Powwow Grounds
• Sept. 13 - 14: Bilijk (Kingsclear), Bilijk Powwow Grounds
• Oct. 25 - 26: Menahqesk (Saint John), TD Station

For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.