Pow Wow regalia are works of art — some are handmade by the people wearing them and others have them commissioned for special use.
But what happens for those who find it it too expensive to have regalia made, don’t know how to make a piece or it’s just not in the cards for them to have their own regalia?
That’s where the Wabinoong Regalia Collective comes in.
They offer free regalia rentals at powwows, serving First Nations communities in northwestern Ontario.
The Wabinoong Regalia Collective travels to powwows across our region lending donated regalia to those who need them.
During their first year in operation, the Wabinoong Regalia Collective let out roughly 200 rentals.
Realizing how important regalia is to an individual, the Collective has received guidance from elders in Fort William First Nation on how to care for the sacred garments. For example, they make sure to smudge each piece of regalia after it’s returned before lending it to someone else.
With Pow Wow season coming to an end, the Collective plans to look for grants and for other ways to secure funding to keep the initiative going next summer.
