The future of the Haudenosaunee smoke dance is in good hands - and active feet.

Published Aug 17, 2026  •  Last updated 2 hours ago  •  2 minute read

The duo of Carter and J.J. Johnson participated in the annual Woodland Cultural Centre’s Smoke Dance Celebration event on Saturday. The event included dancing, vendors, food trucks and a special presentation from members of Wiikwemkoong First Nation. Photo by Jacob Robinson

The future of the Haudenosaunee smoke dance is in good hands – and active feet.  

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Among the dozens of competitors at the Woodland Cultural Centre’s Smoke Dance Celebration event on Saturday, youngsters from the ‘tiny tots’ division (five and under) stole the show. Dressed head to toe in Indigenous regalia, the next generation gave elders plenty of hope for the future.  

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“It makes me so happy because I never got to dance growing up,” said Hailey Powless, whose one-year-old son, Freddy Williams, took part alongside his cousin, Ha Has Williams. “Putting him in it right away makes my heart happy. I just like to see him going out there, smiling and having fun, especially with his family.”  

The centre’s language department manager, Krista Miller, fought back tears watching the youth of Six Nations and other First Nations share in the ritual.  

“I’m trying really hard not to cry because it’s awesome to watch them,” she said. “They start at a very young age; half of the kids here were in tiny tots, and now they’re in teen categories; some are adults now. It’s been amazing watching all of them grow and develop their moves as well.”  

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“It’s always cute because you can tell they’re watching the older ones and mimicking what they’re doing,” Miller added. “I think that’s one of the best things for them.”  

The celebration also included a craft market, food vendors, and a special presentation by members of Wiikwemkoong First Nation.  

“I think it helps us show everyone we’re still here; it helps us reclaim our identity and show people what it’s truly like to be Indigenous and Haudenosaunee,” Powless added.  

“We’ll be here all day long eating snacks, talking to each other and having a good time – it’s like a great family dinner.”  

That’s exactly the kind of environment Miller and the rest of the staff at the centre were looking to cultivate with the event.  

“It’s grown every year that we’ve done it, and I really enjoy doing it,” she said. “I hope it continues to grow.”  

Miller has been in her current position at the Cultural Centre for 18 months and is relishing the opportunity to educate the public on Indigenous culture.  

“I went to school off the reserve, and I stayed off the reserve, but when I started having kids I wanted to teach them about our language and our culture,” she said.  

“I got the opportunity to work here four years ago as an admin assistant, and I was really grateful that I got in – it was a foot in the door. One of the things I really got into was our annual smoke dance celebration. I grew up as a vendor, so that’s why I went right into the job helping them.”  

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