Williams Lake First Nation hosts Father’s Day Pow wow, Premier Eby

A dancer makes his way down the greeting line at the Father’s Day Pow wow at Williams Lake First Nation June 17, 2023 got underway. (Ruth Lloyd photo - Williams Lake Tribune)

Charlene Belleau, honoured elder from Esket front left, stands beside Premier David Eby, alongside Chief Fred Robbins, front right, in front of Cariboo-Chilcoting MLA Lorne Doerkson, back left, and Mayor Surinderpal Rathor at the Father’s Day Pow wow at Williams Lake First Nation June 17, 2023 (Ruth Lloyd photo - Williams Lake Tribune)

Premier David Eby, left, shakes hands with the dignitaries and dancers in line at the Father’s Day Pow wow at Williams Lake First Nation June 17, 2023 (Ruth Lloyd photo - Williams Lake Tribune)

Dancers move into the pow wow grounds as events get underway at the Father’s Day Pow wow at Williams Lake First Nation June 17, 2023 (Ruth Lloyd photo - Williams Lake Tribune)

Premier David Eby, in suit at centre, stands with other dignitaries as dancers honour them at the Father’s Day Pow wow at Williams Lake First Nation June 17, 2023 (Ruth Lloyd photo - Williams Lake Tribune)

Premier David Eby, centre, fist bumps with dancers after they honoured him and other dignitaries at the Father’s Day Pow wow at Williams Lake First Nation June 17, 2023. (Ruth Lloyd photo - Williams Lake Tribune)

Premier David Eby, in suit at centre, gets the thumbs-up from a dancer after he was honoured along with other dignitaries at the Father’s Day Pow wow at Williams Lake First Nation June 17, 2023 (Ruth Lloyd photo - Williams Lake Tribune)

Dallas George dances in the pow wow grounds at the Father’s Day Pow wow at Williams Lake First Nation June 17, 2023 (Ruth Lloyd photo - Williams Lake Tribune)

Dancers were called out onto the pow wow grounds as events got underway at the Father’s Day Pow wow at Williams Lake First Nation June 17, 2023 (Ruth Lloyd photo - Williams Lake Tribune)

Young dancer Yawhundudaih, centre, gets into the music at the Father’s Day Pow wow at Williams Lake First Nation June 17, 2023 (Ruth Lloyd photo - Williams Lake Tribune)

Dancers were called out onto the pow wow grounds as events got underway at the Father’s Day Pow wow at Williams Lake First Nation June 17, 2023 (Ruth Lloyd photo - Williams Lake Tribune)

A young dancer at the Father’s Day Pow wow at Williams Lake First Nation June 17, 2023 (Ruth Lloyd photo - Williams Lake Tribune)

Father’s Day Pow wow at Williams Lake First Nation June 17, 2023 (Ruth Lloyd photo - Williams Lake Tribune)

A young dancer at the Father’s Day Pow wow at Williams Lake First Nation June 17, 2023 (Ruth Lloyd photo - Williams Lake Tribune)

Yawhunudaih, centre, was one of the young local dancers at the Father’s Day Pow wow at Williams Lake First Nation June 17, 2023 (Ruth Lloyd photo - Williams Lake Tribune)

Danikka Murphy, a language and culture leader at Williams Lake First Nation, enjoys the Father’s Day Pow wow at Williams Lake First Nation June 17, 2023 (Ruth Lloyd photo - Williams Lake Tribune)

Dancers and dignitaries make their way into the pow wow grounds in the grand entry at the Father’s Day Pow wow at Williams Lake First Nation June 17, 2023 (Ruth Lloyd photo - Williams Lake Tribune)

Danikka Murphy, right, assistant cultural coordinator at Williams Lake First Nation and language teacher, enjoys the Father’s Day Pow wow at Williams Lake First Nation June 17, 2023 (Ruth Lloyd photo - Williams Lake Tribune)

Dancers and dignitaries make their way into the pow wow grounds in the grand entry at the Father’s Day Pow wow at Williams Lake First Nation June 17, 2023 (Ruth Lloyd photo - Williams Lake Tribune)

Flag bearers stand at the centre of the pow wow grounds, in front of dignitaries Father’s Day Pow wow at Williams Lake First Nation June 17, 2023. (Ruth Lloyd photo - Williams Lake Tribune)

Warrior dancers carrying flags help get the Father’s Day Pow wow at Williams Lake First Nation June 17, 2023 underway. (Ruth Lloyd photo - Williams Lake Tribune)

Dignitaries stand on the pow wow grounds to be honoured by dancers as the Father’s Day Pow wow at Williams Lake First Nation June 17, 2023 (Ruth Lloyd photo - Williams Lake Tribune)

Nevaeh Lewis Baker was one of the visiting dancers attending the Father’s Day Pow wow at Williams Lake First Nation June 17, 2023. Nevaeh said she is from the Capilano area and a member of the Squamish Nation. (Ruth Lloyd photo - Williams Lake Tribune)

Kimmimela Louis, left, Chief Williams Speaking Our Truth Pow wow Princesss, and Kimora Louis, Canim Lake Pow wow Princess, were enjoying a break in the vendor area at the Father’s Day Pow wow at Williams Lake First Nation June 17, 2023 (Ruth Lloyd photo - Williams Lake Tribune)

Premier David Eby poses for some photos with Williams Lake City Councillor Michael Moses outside the pow wow grounds at the Father’s Day Pow wow at Williams Lake First Nation June 17, 2023 (Ruth Lloyd photo - Williams Lake Tribune)

Drummers keep the beat and sing the soundtrack for the Father’s Day Pow wow at Williams Lake First Nation June 17, 2023 (Ruth Lloyd photo - Williams Lake Tribune)

Yawhunudaih, from left, Nildziyenhiya, and Macey were hanging out in between dances at the Father's Day Pow wow at Williams Lake First Nation June 17, 2023 (Ruth Lloyd photo - Williams Lake Tribune)

Dignitaries and dancers gathered at the Chief Will-Yum campground for the Father’s Day Pow-wow at T’exelc (Williams Lake First Nation) on June 17.

The pow wow got underway on Friday, and lasted until Sunday afternoon, but on Saturday they hosted local dignitaries as well as Premier David Eby, who was in town to announce potential funding for Massive Canada’s proposed project at what was the Jackpine Forest Products site in Williams Lake.

Premier Eby was one of a number of politicians and dignitaries at the pow wow, including Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA Lorne Doerkson, Williams Lake Mayor Surinderpal Rathor, and Counsellors Michael Moses and Joan Flaspohler.

While the rain held off for the grand entry of dancers and dignitaries, the sky later unleashed as a thunderstorm passed through.

There was a vendor’s market, some food trucks and crowds of spectators at the event, which had dancers attending from all over, including the Lower Mainland and the United States.

Joan Gentles, honoured elder of the Tl’esqox First Nation (Toosey), gave a prayer after the grand entry, in which all dignitaries and dancers enter the pow wow grounds to a drum song.

Dignitaries were asked to stand in the centre of the pow wow grounds before warrior dancers then circled them and danced an honour dance to thank them for the sacrifices they make as leaders. Jingle dress dancers circled the group on the outside of the grounds at the same time to relieve them of their burdens they hold in their roles.

“As leaders as you move forward, everyone in our circle gets to do the same,” said David Archie, culture coordinator for WLFN, as he thanked them for the work they do.

Premier Eby was given a chance to speak and simply thanked the community for the honour of including him in their event, noting he would take the culture and experience back to his family and the Legislature. He then acknowledged no one was there to hear from the Premier, before handing the microphone back.

READ MORE: National Indigenous Peoples Day events planned for the Cariboo Chilcotin

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BC politics First Nations Indigenous Williams Lake