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Kamloopa Powwow organizers apologize after outrage due to identity-based event rules

Victor Kaisar
Jul 14, 2022 | 1:34 PM


Kamloopa Powwow organizers apologize after outrage due to identity-based event rules

The Kamloopa Powwow (Photo via Kamloopa Powwow Society)

Organizers of the Kamloopa Powwow have apologized after significant public outrage because of some of the rules in place for the annual event which gets underway in two weeks.

In a video on TikTok, two-spirit Nakota Sioux member Kairyn Potts took issue with a requirement that all contestants need to be at least one-quarter native.

“That means that the Kamloopa Powwow is enacting literal colonization tactics – blood quantum – to limit the amount of people that can join the Powwow,” Potts said in the video.

Potts also took issue with a requirement that all dancers be in full regalia during the grand entry, and that they “be of the correct gender” for the category they’re entering.

“This is actually so heartbreaking and such a step backwards for our community,” Potts added.

“The Kamloopa Powwow committee really has no problem letting every single young person who is two-spirited or transgender or non binary or any of these gender diversities that they are not allowed to come. They cannot dance.”

While the Kamloopa Powwow takes place on Tk’emlúps te Secwe̓pemc territory, it is not organized by the First Nation. The Kamloopa Powwow Society did not return calls from NL News Wednesday, though they apologized in a facebook video.

“My deepest sympathy to those who have been hurt and harmed in that posting,” an unnamed organizer said. “The [Kamloopa Powwow Society] board has been able to meet to discuss how we’re going to move forward and looking at those rules and making our wrong right.”

While organizers say the rules that were posted to their facebook page on Tuesday have been enforced for 20 plus years, they add it does not reflect how they’ve run the last 19 Powwows.

“Today, we are more open to acknowledge our two-spirited and even who are Indigenous community is that is includes First nations, Metis and the Inuit people,” the statement said.

“We are inclusive in honoring our 2SLGBTQIA+ and will continue to recognize our relatives. We want to ensure that our event celebrates a diverse Indigenous culture and community respectfully.”

Organizers say the now-controversial rules came about after a German participant placed in a Powwow event one year, upsetting some participants, and from an elder who once spoke about the need for the jingle dress category to be a women-only event.

“I do not know how we’re going to recover from this. We’ve impacted so many people who were set to have specials in celebration of their family and loved ones that are no longer having specials,” the unnamed Powwow organizer added.

“Just know that we are here to relook at how we’ve been operating and how we can move forward in a good way so that there is no room for hurt and harm to anyone.”

The 41st annual Kamloopa Powwow is set to take place between July 29 and 31 after a two year hiatus due to COVID-19.

Here is the apology video from the Kamloopa Powwow Society