Caldwell First Nation to offer tours of traditional sites en route to first pow wow on new reserve

Caldwell First Nation will hold its first ever pow wow on its new reserve in Leamington next month — and people will be able to take bus tours en route that will showcase the community's history.

The Caldwell First Nation Pow Wow Bus Tour will take 105 riders on a free 90-minute tour along the Windsor-Essex shoreline, during which Caldwell First Nation guides will take them to village sites, trading posts and trails that helped sustain the people for thousands of years. 

"Our people have touched every square foot of this region and left lasting and sometimes invisible imprints," said Chief Nikki van Oirschot in a news release announcing the tours.

"People in our region can take this opportunity to learn about the incredibly rich, sacred and historic First Nation sites."

Members of the First Nation began moving to the reserve last summer after securing a $105-million land claim settlement in 2011 and acquiring 80 hectares of land, which were officially designated a reserve in 2020.  

Holding the first ever pow wow on the new lands "means everything to us," said Coun. Randy DeGraw.

"This is so exciting for all of us. … We have fought very hard to get our land back. We have it, and we have people living on the reserve now. So the next step of course is to have this competition pow wow and to celebrate."

It's especially important for the community to hold the event for the youth, DeGraw added, because it will inspire them to host their own pow wows as well.

DeGraw said a particularly beautiful aspect of the event is the coming together of the First Nation and its neighbours.

"What we're hoping to do is plant a little seed with this pow wow, and every year watch it grow a little more and more," he said, "and the unity between First Nations and the surrounding communities coming together." 

The pow wow is a competitive event that will feature drummers, singers and dancers from other nations who will compete for prizes, DeGraw said. 

The grand entries take place at noon and 6 p.m on Aug. 9 and noon on Aug. 10.

The Caldwell First Nation Pow Wow Bus Tour will depart Windsor at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 9 and at 10 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 10.

Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island is providing a promotional sponsorship to the project.

The collaboration marks the first step in what will hopefully be "a long and meaningful collaboration on Indigenous tourism," said Gordon Orr, CEO of the tourism organization in the news release.

"We're honoured to walk alongside a nation so rich in stories, wisdom and heritage, and we're excited to help open more doors for visitors to engage with and learn from their incredible legacy."

Riders will board the bus at Destination Ontario – Ontario Travel Information Services at 110 Park St. E. in Windsor. 

People can reserve the free bus tour seats by buying a $10 ticket to the pow wow at caldwellfirstnation.ca.