Powwow regalia can be expensive and difficult to make, leaving some Indigenous people without their own outfits.
That’s where Tisha Duncan and the Wabinoong Regalia Collective come in. The group offers free regalia rentals at powwows for First Nations communities across northwestern Ontario.
Duncan started the program when she was 19 after learning about a similar service in Oregon. She was also getting into dancing and making her own regalia at the time.
“For me, there were a lot of barriers … financially, culturally, knowing elders in my area,” Duncan said.
She said she saw a need for the service among Indigenous youth in the region.
The collective travels to different communities during powwow season, which generally runs from June to September. Community members have donated regalia that their children have outgrown or that they no longer need.
Duncan said the collective had about 200 rentals during its first year and has continued to receive invitations from communities.
“I think a lot of families in this region have seen the impact that it can make and the positivity that it brings to Indigenous youth,” she said.
Duncan also hopes the program can support youth mental health and suicide prevention. She said dancing helped her through difficult times and wants other youth to have the same opportunity.
Misty Atlookan, who helps with the collective, said travelling to powwows has helped her become more confident and learn more about her culture and language.
“Being around good medicine … learning about my culture and my language has really helped me,” Atlookan said.
Duncan has also learned from elders in Fort William First Nation about caring for regalia. She smudges each piece after it is returned before lending it to someone else.
With powwow season ending, Duncan said she will look for grants and other funding to keep the collective operating next summer.
