Thousands gather to celebrate Indigenous culture at Squamish Nation Youth Powwow

Thousands visited the Squamish Nation's Elders Centre in West Vancouver this past weekend forthe nation's 32nd annual Youth Powwow.

The three-day event featured food, vendors, dance, and the crowning of this year's powwow princesses.

Six-year-old Terrena Charlie and nine-year-old Tal-leya Baker Lewis were chosen to represent their nation until next year's event.

Appointing young royalty for the yearis an important part of Squamish Nation tradition.

Francis James, the event'sMC, explains thatroyalty is earned by young people who demonstrate aneagerness to be involved in their culture and tradition.

Terrena and Tal-leya represent the beginning of the journey for a young Squamish person, a journey that most of their familymembers went through when they were younger as well.

Jessica Baker, whosefamily started the Squamish Nation Youth Powwow, has been involved since she was seven years old.

She believesthat the powwow is a crucial resource for First Nations youth because it encourages them to be engaged in their cultureand, in doing so, awayfrom drugs and alcohol.

One of the main pillars of culture is food and thanks to Baker's father, the powwow is well catered.

Wilfred Bakeris in charge of cooking the salmon for the entire three-day event, helping tofeed the thousands of visitors.

But the biggest draw for most people who attend the powwow is thedance competition.

This year, Mikayla Seto won second placein the women's jinglecompetition.

She and her friends explained the importance of the beautiful dance regalia.

"The regalia is sacred when you take care of your outfit, your outfit will take care of you," Seto said.

Another dancer, Rebecca Sangwais, learned to do beading for moccasins at theFirst Nations University of Canada in Regina, where shedeveloped a skill for creating her own regalia.

Even so, it took two years to make the pieces she wears to dance.

Although there are prizes involved in the powwow, Sangwais explains that dancers are not taught to be competitive against each other.

"You're dancing for yourself it's the dancer versus the drum, not against another dancer," she said.

Carl Potter, who hasdanced and drummed his whole life, describes dancing as"a way of life."

This year's powwow was especially significant for Potter becauseof a memorial that took place for his nephew Joshua Potter, who died four years ago aged 28.

On Sunday, Potter and hisfamily spoke about their lost loved one to the crowd,who, in turn, lined up to shake the family's hands and offer their condolences.

Potter wasn't competing on the weekend, but he wore regalia to honour his nephew, who helped him make some of theitems.

The powwow offers a healing environment, aplace where people can come together to express their grief as well as their joy.

One of the manyjoyful events and the last dance at the powwow was the PotatoDance.

The event concludedwith the announcement of the winners from each dance category.

The new princesses shakehands with each winner their first royal duty of the year.