Plans are already underway for Conne River’s 25th anniversary Pow Wow next summer.

The popular event has been drawing people to the province’s south coast in increasing numbers for the last two decades, but this year’s gathering was significantly scaled back.

Sagimaw Mi’sel Joe says this year the Pow Wow was limited to a maximum of 250 residents of the community.

Despite that and recent revelations, he says it was good to sit with family and friends without the masks on. “It was good for the soul” is how he described this year’s event.

Efforts are already underway to plan for next year’s Pow Wow.

Mi’sel Joe expects that next year will further recognize the Missing and Murdered Women and Girls Inquiry and its findings and recommendations, as well as ongoing updates on the search for unmarked graves associated with residential schools in Canada.