Pow Wow has become a yearly tradition. We travel up to our reservation near Hayward, Wisconsin for LCO Honor the Earth Pow Wow. We get to enjoy time with my Dad's side of the family and recharge our batteries with some spiritual energy.
We didn't go when I was younger because my Grandma had moved to the city as a young woman and the city is where she stayed. She was one of the children taken to the boarding schools, to learn the "civilized" way to live and I think that stigma stayed attached to her. She didn't share many stories of her growing up or teach many traditions but when she retired, she moved back to the reservation. It was then that my Dad went back to the Pow Wow as well and took us along.
A little sidebar about my Dad. He was sent to the reservation the year before he was to turn 13 to learn how to be a brave. He had to learn many different things but my favorite story was he arrived at his Aunt's home and everything was labeled with an Ojibwe word. They told him that he would have three days to learn those words and after that time, the words would come down, they would stop speaking English to him and if he couldn't say it, he couldn't have it. He said, "amazing how fast you learn something when it involves eating, going to the bathroom or to sleep".
Pow Wow is different for every tribe. Ours is about Honoring the Earth and spirit, taking a moment basically to say thank you for what you have, reflect on your life and find that inner peace. It's about traditions.
I am by NO means an expert when it comes to my Native background or Pow Wow for that matter. If you have a question, you ask an elder. I miss my Dad a little extra during Pow Wow because he is not next to me, telling me some tidbit. Your elders are the back bone of the family and tribe and they get the ultimate respect.
Here are a few random details of what the day is about.
Regalia is what you wear to dance, it is NOT a costume. You can dance without it, but if you wear it, what you wear depicts the type of dancing you do. Regalia can tell a story for some. Passed on from generations, the details on it can sometimes tell someone what reservation you are from. A LOT of time and energy is put into the regalia you wear.
The arena is where you dance. At our reservation, in the arena, you cannot carry a child. To carry a child means you want to give that child away. Children should be able to let their own feet carry them and make their own path.
My cousin David, brother Brandon, Max and Dylan are all traditional dancers. Their regalia involves bead work, feathers and buck skin. They dance the slowest of the male dancers in the arena.
My Aunts Mona and Judy are traditional dancers as well. Buckskin is their choice. They dance slow and delicate.
Mara and Payton wear jingle dresses. They are the medicine women of our tribe and their jingles have healing powers. They dance with their hands on their hips and cannot make a full turn while dancing. They can only turn to the left or right while dancing.
Claire and Kayla are fancy shawl dancers. They have a shawl with fringe that they extend out to each side and they can spin while they dance.
The other two types are Men's grass and fancy. They dance similar but the fancy are the ones with huge bustles and they dance the fastest. They are a blur of feathers when they get moving and my favorite to watch.
We honor the Veterans every year with a special dance. Flags are carried in first and an honor song is played after they retire the flags at the end of grand entry. A prayer is said at the beginning of each grand entry and tobacco is sprinkled on the grounds by each dancer as they enter for the arena. There are drum groups from all over the state and in addition to inner tribal dances where anyone can dance, traditional dances are done as well. The announcer explains the story behind each dance.
One of the things that I like most about Pow Wow is the relaxed atmosphere. There are food and merchandise vendors around the arena and it is perfectly ok to let your children be on their own because everyone is watching your children..they are safe. No alcohol is allowed on the Pow Wow grounds. And, although things attempt to run on a schedule, if something throws that off, it is pushed back or changed and no one is stressing about the details. As I said, it's a day to find your inner peace and be thankful for what you have and honor those that have gone before us.
I let the kids take most of the photos this year and here is a random sampling.
Dylan and Max, teen Traditional
Just a random dancer dressed traditionally
Random dancer, Men's Traditional
Mara and Payton waiting to enter the arena for Girls Jingle
My brother Brandon in buckskin for Men's Traditional
Grand Entry
Claire and Kayla waiting for Girls Fancy Shawl to enter the arena
Mara and Payton dancing in their Jingle Dresses
Claire doing her thing
My Aunt's Mona and Judy..Ladies Traditional
My cousin's daughter Kayla dancing
Grand Entry..Men's Traditional
Kids dancing
The back of one of our favorite Fancy Dancers
Honoring the Flags
We had this little chipmunk who lived under our chairs during the day Pow Wow. The kids thought it was appropriate since my Dad's name was Little Chipmunk.
Grand Entry
One of the dancers we've watched over the years. Clearly, he has a sense of humor.
My Aunts waiting for Grand Entry to finish
Mara, Payton and Claire dancing
Kristen, Dylan and Claire coming in from dancing.
My Mom with Teddy, Mara and Payton watching the dancing.
