Little Current Ontario - North Channel - The Great Hawberry Festival

Little Current, ON is the town located at the beginning of the North Channel and is the dividing line between Georgian Bay and the North Channel. We wanted to arrive in Little Current so that we could take part in their Hawberry Festival that runs from July 31st to August 4th. This festival, sponsored by the Lions Club has something for everybody, from parades, races, food, entertainment to a huge fireworks celebration that would rival some big cities in the US. Little Current has a population of 1500 people!

The Cardboard boat races. The only requirement and the only material allowed is cardboard and duck tape. The races are divided into age groups ranging from youngsters to adults. The idea is to launch your boat, paddle out to a marker and return. The kids had a lot of fun but very few survived the whole course before sinking.

 Miss Manitoulin served as the official starter for each age group.

If you didn't like cardboard boat races, you could watch the parade.

 Or have the Stilt Man make you a balloon animal.

Or play Musical Chairs in the town square with the Clown Lady.

Young and old joined in.

In the afternoon, Rob and Linda from the Trawler "ERRANTE" and Sara and I hired a taxi for $100 and drove the 60 miles to the First Nation PowWow. In Canada, the native people are called First Nation People. (In the US, we call them Native Americans). Every year, the First Nation holds a PowWow for all native tribes and this PowWow is the largest in all of North America. All the native tribes from Canada and the US are represented. They participate in dance competitions and games and learn of their peoples culture and traditions. It was very impressive to see and hear the real natives performing and talking among themselves and not putting on a show for outsiders.

Young native dancer

Native women dancers

A real headdress

Lakota Sioux Tepee

A Royal Canadian Mounted Policewoman,  who just happened to be a First Nation Native. She was very proud of her heritage and of her eleven years in the Canadian Navy and in the CMP.

My new friend.

The Hawberry Bush. The early pioneers in Canada would eat the berries as a source of food and vitamin C.

The Trawler ERRANTE all decked out in balloons and lights for the evening boat parade.

Dancing in the street.

Linda and her purple hair

Sara and her purple hair