On May 28, 2026, students and staff of the Nipissing-Parry Sound Catholic District School Board (NPSC) took an important step in deepening their understanding and appreciation of First Nations culture.
They were among approximately 3,000 attendees at the Third Annual City of North Bay Pow Wow, held at Board Longyear Memorial Gardens and hosted and planned collaboratively by Nipissing First Nation, the City of North Bay, and the four local school boards. Several valued community partners were also present, reflecting broad support for the event and its purpose.
Facilitated by well-known Knowledge Keeper and Storyteller Sid Bobb, the celebration offered many meaningful learning opportunities, including guidance on pow wow etiquette and insight into the spiritual and symbolic significance of many visual, ceremonial, and physical elements of the pow wow.
The pow wow’s interactive format invited students and staff to actively participate in the celebration, taking part in activities such as a moose call competition and various traditional dances. A particularly memorable moment occurred during the potato dance, when participants gathered in the centre of the arena and danced in pairs, each duo working together to keep a potato balanced between their foreheads while moving in time with the drum. |
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The annual City of North Bay Pow Wow was born from the shared vision of people coming together with open hearts for a common purpose. This collective effort has since grown into a meaningful and enduring tradition rooted in reconciliation, mutual respect, and understanding.
We are truly grateful for the opportunity the pow wow creates each year to listen, learn, celebrate, and stand united as a community, made possible through strong collaboration and shared leadership. |