CA Recently ended

Gidinawendamin/Ska'nikú•lát powwow

Name: Gidinawendamin/Ska'nikú•lát powwow
Start: 2026-09-27
End: 2026-09-27
Location: Waterloo

The Gidinawendamin/Ska'nikú•lát powwow is the 23rd annual celebration of Indigenous culture and traditions, organized by the University of Waterloo's Office of Indigenous Relations. This free event, scheduled for September 27, 2026, at the University of Waterloo in Waterloo, Canada, welcomes Indigenous dancers, singers, drummers, and vendors, as well as non-Indigenous attendees, to experience and share cultural heritage.

Date: Sep 27, 2026
Location: Waterloo
Status: Recently ended

+ Add ICS

Event summary

Highlights

Traditional Indigenous dance and music performances
Intertribal dance, open to all participants
Showcase of Indigenous regalia, food, and crafts
Cultural exchange fostering unity and knowledge sharing

The powwow serves as a vital platform for Indigenous people to reconnect with their heritage and for various Indigenous nations to share traditions and cultural knowledge. It also provides an important opportunity for non-Indigenous attendees to learn about and engage with Indigenous traditions, with Elder Myeengun Henry emphasizing that all cultures are welcome.

Attendees can experience a rich program of traditional music and dance, including performances from Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee nations. The event features numerous drum groups and an intertribal dance, where members from different Indigenous nations and non-Indigenous participants join together. Beyond performances, the powwow showcases Indigenous regalia, food, and crafts from various vendors and makers.

Held just outside the Columbia Icefield at the University of Waterloo, the gathering emphasizes unity and cultural exchange. Participants, including long-time attendees like dancer Maegan Boyter Mandawoub from Saugeen First Nation, highlight the event's role in maintaining and passing down Indigenous heritage. Its timing, a few days before the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, also underscores its significance in fostering a better future for Indigenous nations in Canada.

Practical details

Before attending

Check the sources below for current opening times, admission prices and registration requirements. A date range does not mean the event runs continuously or that admission is free.