2018 Guide to Pow Wows Across Canada
This blog post was written before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic when physical distancing and other COVID health and safety protocols were not in effect. The businesses and communities featured in this article may be once again welcoming visitors but please double check as some are only open with limited operations and others have not yet reopened.
We’ve compiled an ultimate guide to Pow Wows taking place across Canada this year. Take a look at the dates in your area, or plan your next road trip for a uniquely Canadian experience!
Pow Wows are ceremonial celebrations of cultural pride for all ages and provide an opportunity for Indigenous communities to gather together, celebrate, commemorate and learn from each other. These dynamic events showcase the music, dance, regalia, food and crafts of Indigenous peoples and nations from across Canada. Pow Wows are typically hosted by an identified First Nations community or organization, with neighbours, friends and relatives from all nations participating in many of today’s contemporary Pow Wows.
Pow Wow Etiquette
Pow Wows are a welcoming space and to ensure a wonderful experience for everyone, please be aware of Pow Wow Etiquette. Guidelines may vary between provinces and regions, so check with the MC, Arena Director or Head Singer if you’re unsure of expectations and they will be happy to help answer questions.
General Pow Wow Etiquette Includes:
- Be on time
- Dress and behave in an appropriate and respectful manner
- Remember that arena benches are reserved for dancers and some seating is always reserved for Elders (bringing your own lawn chair is a great idea)
- Be courteous and aware of those around you
- Consider donating to honour and support the costs of these typically non-profit events
- Drugs and alcohol are not allowed
- Ask before taking photos at Pow Wows
2018 Pow Wows by Region
Alberta
Napi Competition Pow Wow
January 19-21, 2018
Piikani FN, AB
International Peace Pow Wow
February 24-25, 2018
Lethbridge AB
Ben Calf Robe Traditional Pow Wow
May 12, 2018
Edmonton, AB
Peace River Competition Pow Wow
June 2-3, 2018
Peace River, AB
Grande Prairie Traditional Pow Wow
June 16-17, 2018
Grande Praire, AB
Awo Taan Healing Lodge Society Traditional Pow Wow
June 16, 2018
Calgary, AB
Waskasoo Seepee Traditional Pow Wow
June 21, 2018
Red Deer, AB
Sturgeon Lake Traditional Pow Wow
June 22-24, 2018
Valleyview, AB
Saddle Lake Cree Nation Competition Pow Wow
June 22-24, 2018
Saddle Lake, AB
2018 Aboriginal Day Celebration Mini Competition Powwow
June 22, 2018
Stony Plain, AB
Fort McKay First Nation Traditional Pow Wow
June 23, 2018
Fort McMurray, AB
Banff Iniskim Cross Cultural Pow Wow
June 29-30, 2018
Banff, AB
Beaver Lake Cree Nation Annual Competition Pow Wow
June 29-July 1, 2018
Lac La Biche, AB
Alexis Nakota Sioux Pow Wow
July 6-8, 2018
Glenevis, AB
Enoch Cree Nation Competition Pow Wow
July 13-15, 2018
Enoch, AB
Kainai Pow Wow
July 20-22, 2018
Standoff, AB
Tsuu t’ina Pow Wow
July 27-29, 2018
Bragg Creek, AB
Kehewin Annual Competition Pow Wow
August 3-5, 2018
Kehewin, AB
Poundmaker’s Lodge Treatment Centres Annual Pow Wow
August 4-5, 2018
St Albert, AB
Cardston – Kainai Powwow 2018
August 8, 2018
Cardston, AB
Samson Cree Nation Pow Wow
August 9-12, 2018
Maskwacis, AB
Samson Cree Nation Pow Wow
August 9-12, 2018
Maskwacis, AB
19th Annual Heart Lake First Nation Pow Wow
August 10-12, 2018
Lac La Biche, AB
Alexander First Nation Traditional Pow-Wow
August 22-23, 2019
Morinville, AB
Frog Lake Competition Pow Wow
August 24-26, 2018
Frog Lake, AB
National Indigenous Cultural Expo Competition Pow Wow
September 28-30, 2018
Edmonton, AB
British Columbia
Celebration of Traditions, Traditional Pow Wow
April 13-14, 2018
Osoyoos, BC
Narcisse Traditional Pow Wow
May 11-12, 2018
Lillooet, BC
Celebrating Our Youth Pow Wow
May 19-21, 2018
Mount Currie, BC
Spirit of the Peace Competition Pow Wow
June 8-10, 2018
Taylor, BC
34th Annual Chief William Fathers Day Traditional Pow Wow
June 15-17, 2018
Williams Lake, BC
2018 Kootenays National Aboriginal Day Festival
June 16, 2018
Windemere, BC
St. Eugene Owners Celebration Pow Wow
June 24, 2018
Cranbrook, BC
Squamish Nation 31st Annual Youth Pow Wow
July 13-15, 2018
West Vancouver, BC
Nlaka’pamux Nation Gathering and Pow Wow
July 26-29, 2018
Merritt, BC
Kamloopa Pow Wow
August 3-5, 2018
Kamloops, BC
Skwlax Competition Pow Wow
August 10-12, 2018
Chase, BC
Pow Wow Between the Lakes
August 17-19, 2018
Penticton, BC
Quesnel Tillicum Society 45th Annual Memorial Pow Wow
October 6-7, 2018
Quesnel, BC
Saskatchewan
“Honouring Our Children, Our Families” Traditional Powwow
March 24-25, 2018
Yorkton, SK
ld, SK
40th Annual First Nations University of Canada Powwow
April 21-22, 2018
Regina, SK
Atimiskakewak National Gathering Pow Wow
April 27, 2018
Moose Jaw, SK
WACA 7th Annual Traditional Pow Wow
June 16, 2018
Moose Jaw, SK
Revitalizing the Circle: Saskatoon’s First Two Spirit Powwow
June 16, 2018
Saskatoon, SK
George Gordon First Nation Pow Wow
June 29-July 1, 2018
Punnichy, SK
Muskeg Lake Cree Nation Veterans Memorial Traditional Pow Wow
June 30-July 1, 2018
Leask, SK
Red Pheasant Pow Wow
July 3-5, 2018
Red Pheasant, BC
Fort-A-La-Corne Traditional Pow-Wow
July 13-15, 2018
James Smith Creek, SK
Kahkewistahaw First Nation Powwow
July 13-15, 2018
Broadview, SK
Back to Batoche Metis Days
July 19-22, 2018
Batoche, SK
Thunderchild Pow Wow
July 27-29, 2018
Turtleford, SK
Beardys & Okemasis Traditional Pow Wow
July 27-29, 2018
Duck Lake, SK
Muskoday First Nation Traditional Pow Wow
August 4-5, 2018
Muskoday, SK
Peepeekisis Traditional Powwow
August 8-9,2018
Peepeeksis, SK
Cowessess Traditional Pow Wow
August 10-12, 2018
Broadview, SK
Ochapowace First Nation Pow Wow
August 24-26, 2018
Whitewood, SK
Pheasant Rump Nakota Competition Pow Wow
August 31-September 2, 2018
Kisbey, SK
Manitoba
University of Winnipeg Graduation Pow Wow
March 17, 2018
Winnipeg, MB
Manito Ahbee Competition Pow Wow
May 19-20, 2018
Winnipeg MB
2nd Annual Two-Spirit Pow Wow
June 2, 2018
Winnipeg, MB
Skownan First Nation Pow Wow
July 14-15, 2018
Skownan, MB
Peguis First Nation Annual Treaty Days & Pow Wow
July 14-22, 2018
Peguis, MB
Dakota Oyate Wacipi, Sioux Valley Dakota Nation
July 20-22, 2018
Sioux Valley, MB
Ada Wilson “Grey Cloud Woman” Pow Wow
July 3-August 2, 2018
Koostatak, MB
Waywayseecappo First Nation Traditional Pow Wow
August 3-5, 2018
Rossburn, MB
Piikani Nation Powwow and Celebration
August 3-5, 2018
Brocket, MB
Canupawakpa Dakota Oyate Wacipi Competition Pow Wow
August 3-5, 2018
Pipestone, MB
Pukatawagan Pow Wow
August 6-8, 2018
Pukatawagan, MB
5th Annual Norway House Cree Nation Competition Pow Wow
August 10-12, 2018
Winnipeg, MB
Brokenhead Treaty Days and Pow Wow
August 10-12, 2018
Scanterbury, MB
Sandy Bay First Nation Traditional Pow Wow
August 24-26, 2018
Sandy Bay First Nation, MB
14th Annual Opikihiwawin Traditional Pow Wow
September 8, 2018
Winnipeg, MB
MMIW Red Dress Pow Wow
October 6, 2018
Winnipeg, MB
Ontario
Embody the Spirit Powwow – Masters Indigenous Games
July 15, 2018
Mississauga, ON
Scogog Annual Pow Wow
July 21-22, 2018
Port Perry, ON
Grand River Champion of Champions Powwow
July 27-29, 2018
Six Nations, ON
Wiikwemkoong 58th Annual Cultural Festival
August 4-6, 2018
Manitoulin Island, ON
Constance Lake Pow Wow
Aug 10-12, 2018
Constance Lake, ON
Genaabaajing Powwow
August 10-12, 2018
Cutler, ON
Tyendinaga Pow Wow
August 11-12, 2018
Tyendinaga, ON
Neyaashiinigmiing Annual Traditional Pow Wow 2018
August 17-19, 2018
Cape Croker Park, ON
Mattagami First Nation Annual Traditional Pow Wow
August 18-19, 2018
Gogama, ON
Rama First Nation Annual Pow Wow
August 25-26, 2018
Rama, ON
Three Fires Homecoming Pow Wow
August 25-26, 2018
Hagersville, ON
Silver Lake 24th Annual Traditional Pow Wow
August 25-26, 2018
Maberly, ON
Batchewana First Nation Annual Pow Wow
Sault Ste. Marie, ON
August 31-Sep 2, 2018
Akwesasne International PowWow
Sep 8-9, 2018
Cornwall Island, ON
Georgian Bay Friendship Centre 18th Annual Pow Wow
Sept 8-9, 2018
Midland, ON
Annual Native Harvest Festival and Pow Wow
Sep 15-16, 2018
London, ON
St. Paul’s 15th Annual Traditional Pow Wow
Sep 22, 2018
Waterloo, ON
Quebec
Kitigan Zibi Traditional Pow Wow
June 2-3, 2018
Maniwaki, QC
Pikogan Pow Wow
June 9-10, 2018
Pikogan, QC
Wendake International Pow Wow
June 29-July 1, 2018
Wendake, QC
Abenaki Pow Wow Odanak
July 6-8, 2018
Odanak, QC
Great Gathering of First Nations (Pow wow) of Mashteuiatsh
July 13-15, 2018
Mashteuiatsh, QC
Kahnawake Pow Wow: Echoes of a Proud Nation
July 14-15, 2018
Kahnawake, QC
Pow-Wow Essipit
July 19-22, 2018
Essipit, QC
Pow-Wow Lac Simon
July 21-July 22, 2018
Lac-Simon, QC
Pow-Wow Manawan
August 3-5, 2018
Manawan, QC
Chisasibi Traditionnal Pow Wow
August 3-5, 2018
Chisasibi, QC
Listuguj Pow Wow
August 4-5, 2018
Listuguj, QC
Mawiomi Gespeg
August 9, 2018
Gaspé, QC
Cacouna Festival Deux nations, Une Fête
August 11-12, 2018
Cacouna, QC
Pessamit Pow Wow
August 11-12, 2018
Betsiamites, QC
Wemindji Traditional Pow Wow
August 11-12, 2018
Wemindji, QC
Mistissini Pow Wow
August 17-19, 2018
Mistissini, QC
Wôlinak Pow Wow
August 24-26, 2018
Wôlinak, QC
Timiskaming First Nation 16th Annual Traditional Pow Wow
August 24-26, 2018
Notre-Dame-du-Nord, QC
Kanehsatake Traditional Pow Wow
August 25-26, 2018
Kanesatake, QC
Wemotaci Pow Wow
September 1-2, 2018
Wemotaci, QC
McGill Annual Pow Wow
September 21, 2018
Montreal, QC
Waskaganish Pow Wow
September 21-23, 2018
Waskaganish, QC
New Brunswick
Eel Ground First Nation ― Natoaganeg Powwow
July 19-22, 2018
Eel Ground, NB
Annual Elsipogtog First Nation Pow Wow
August 31 – Sept 2, 2018
Big Cove, NB
Nova Scotia
Millbrook First Nation Competition Powwow
August 10-12, 2018
Millbrook, NS
Newfoundland & Labrador
Bay St. George Mi’Kmaq Pow Wow
July 14-16, 2018
Bay St. George, NL
Are we missing a Pow wow in your community? Let us know on our Facebook page and we’ll add it to this list!
Dené Sinclair
Featured Experiences
Pow-Wow Manawan
Manawan, Quebec
