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KAMLOOPA POWWOW

‘It’s kind of like stealing a moment in time’: dancer embracing spirit of Kamloopa Powwow

Jun 27, 2025 | 6:15 PM

KAMLOOPS — The 44th annual Kamloopa Powwow is scheduled to get underway on Friday (June 27) inside the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc Arbour, with the grand entry slated for 7 p.m.

Soila Hill, a dancer from Sturgeon Lake, Alta., said the Kamloopa Powwow features some of the best singing, dancing and drumming in the country.

“When I’m out here dancing, I’m just connecting with my spirit, with my ancestors, embracing something our people lost for many years,” Hill said. “It’s kind of like stealing a moment in time and embracing that inner spirit and the spirits around you.”

Kamloopa Powwow Society director Colin Stonechild said the committee learned lessons during its first year in charge in 2024 and expects this year’s event will be a hit.

“It’s world class,” he said. “We have lots of great energy here. People from all over the world come here and it’s always high energy and a great atmosphere. It’s one of the greatest powwow arbours in the country.”

Competitions, dancing, drumming and singing will feature at the weekend event, with food and artisan vendors set up around the arbour.

Thousands of visitors from across the country and beyond are expected, including a group from New Zealand that will put on Maori Kapa Haka performances throughout the weekend.

The powwow will wrap up on Sunday, with the Princess Pageant scheduled for 11 a.m. and festivities continuing into the night.

You can find the full powwow program and schedule here.