Spokane, WA

This past Saturday, August 23rd, my husband, two of my granddaughters and myself packed a picnic lunch and went to Riverfront Park to watch the annual Pow Wow. There were several Indian nations gathered to share in dance, food, drumming and contests. My granddaughters had fixed up their own costumes in anticipation of participating in the pow wow dancing

I too donned a simple outfit but none of us had as fancy costumes as many others accustomed to attending year after year. There were concession stands for food of all types for the crowds gathered on the green to watch the contests and dances. It was a warm day but we found a nice shady area where we could sit and watch for awhile before joining in some of the dancing. This was the first time my granddaughters had attended and they were awed at the display of colorful costumes worn by all ages. They got quite a few ideas for creating even better costumes for next years pow wow.

 
The Pow Wow had people from the Kalisbell, Couer d’ Alene, Spokane, Yakima, Colville and Nez Pierce Tribes. There were dances for golden age women in which only two ladies participated and then golden age men. Judges watched the performance of each dance and chose the best dancers to compete again later in the day from each tribe.

After the golden age dancers the junior girls danced, ages five through 12, and were followed by the teenage girls dancing. Then the Junior age boys and teen age boys danced followed by young women age 18 to 49 and young men age 18 to 49.

It was fun, exciting and colorful watching the dancers perform steps and gyrations of various types. The caller cracked jokes at people and everyone laughed. Between contests there was more dancing in which all tribal dances could come dance and the spectators were invited to come and join in as well and learn some native dance steps. Different drummers from each tribe took turns at the drums.

My husband chose to lie back in the shade while my granddaughters, Tamzi and Zariah, and I made our way down to the dance green where others were dancing to the tom tom beat of the native drums. We saw a lot of interesting costumes and while some danced with elaborate steps, others had a more slower sedate step.

The girls and I joined the dancers and had a fun time learning the steps of our native heritage as they participated for the first time in a pow wow dance. We had not registered to be in the contests but we did enjoy the open pow wow dancing. Zariah was a complete natural and fit right in with the other girls. Tamzi was a bit more shy but soon was participating in a shy but sure way.

After we danced for about an hour we went back to my husband and ate our picnic lunch, watching as the dancing and contests continued. It was altogather a wonderful fun and relaxing day. The girls are already planning more elaborate costumes for next year and chattered excitedly about about the day as we drove home eager to tell their siblings and parents all the things they saw and did. Next year my daughter and her other children hope to attend as well and meanwhile we will be searching for things to make up new costumes. If you have never been to a pow wow it is an event worth attending and the Indian Nation Inter Tribal convention holds Pow Wows annually near the end of August at Riverfront Park every year.

The Pow Wow is free to attend and participate in non-contest dances. To participate in contests you must be enrolled in a tribe and pay to be in the contest. Bring a picnic lunch if your on a low budget and a blanket, chairs and umbrella for shade or ample cash to purchase food and drinks at the various concessions stands and or trinkets and souveniers and your sure to have a great time with the family.