I'm so excited, the hubby and I are going to my first Pow Wow tonight! I've always wanted to do this, but never got around to it. Anyway, it is the Potawatomi one just north of Topeka KS.

This is important to me because my birth mother was of Native blood, but I was adopted out and have never had any first hand experience with Native Americans or their culture. I think I'm going to enjoy myself a lot!

-- Anonymous, June 08, 2002

Answers

Good for you, Debra!! I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time. There's just something about that drumbeat at many of the native celebrations that is really hard to ignore!! I've been to one native celebration here in Maine (the Penobscot Indian Nation) and it was totally awesome...and, as far as I know I have no native American blood in me!

-- Anonymous, June 08, 2002

WOW! (hmmm. Only half an event here....missing the "Pow", I guess)....

I would love to hear about it! Please recap for us, if you will! Thanks.

-- Anonymous, June 09, 2002

That's somehting I would like to do also. Make sure to tell us all about it!

-- Anonymous, June 10, 2002

Debra, you may not feel like chatting much, with what's been going on in your life. But we would like to hear about the Pow-Wow, if you feel like it.

-- Anonymous, June 14, 2002

Someone over at Homesteading Today, I think it may have been Soni, was talking about being involved with a group for people with NA ancestry who aren't sure what tribe they're from. I don't remember if it was before or after the migration but the title of the thread was something like 'I got my Indian name'. It might be another resource for you to check out sometime.

-- Anonymous, June 14, 2002

Pow Wow Recap-There isn't as much to tell as I'd like but here goes... We got there just after they started with the Grand Entry which is where all the dancers come out to a circular arena and dance several songs together. At times during these dances people from the audience came out and gave the head dancer's partner money and then joined in the dance following behind the head dancer. These dances seemed to go on a very long time, at least an hour after we got there.

After those dances were over they began to have more individual competitions. The men danced first and that's all I got to see because my hubby was getting really bored with it all.

The costumes were in some cases fantastic. There were so many colors I could hardly look at them all, so bright and vibrant. One "princess" had a dress made all in gold lame with what must have been covered withat least 300 or 400 gold bells. I doubt this would have been a traditional color, but she was beautiful none the less.

The cutest thing were the little kids all dressed in their costumes and dancing. They have no idea how fortunate they are to be able to be part of it all. There was one little girl just barely able to toddle, she couldn't have weighed more than 16 or 17 pounds at the most. She was just adorable. All the other dancers would simply step over and go around her when they came upon her. They did this for the very old people too. Very courteous.

They had a few booths set up for merchandise. I bought 2 pairs of earrings and a T-shirt.

Well thats all I can think of right now, I'd like to go to a larger Pow Wow and stay longer next time.

-- Anonymous, June 15, 2002