Picaresque: Powwow Time

About Me

Location: Arapahoe, Wyoming, United States

(Note: Blogs read from bottom to top; scroll down for beginnings, scroll up for most current.) After 30 years in public administration and four degrees, as well as numerous workshops with luminaries in Education and Public Policy, life in a slower lane became a goal. Most recently I have done policy writing and consulting for the Northern Arapaho and Eastern Shoshone Tribes. Mostly, I am just coasting slowly and gently downhill these days-seeking joy where I can find it before the glorious ride ends.

Saturday, June 27, 2009

Powwow Time

What a beauty! The 2009 Shoshone Powwow Queen graciously posed for a picture. The 60th Annual Eastern Shoshone Powwow is off and running. It is a really accessible event and it seems bigger and better this year. The Grand Entry Procession was the best I have seen in quite a few years of attending. It took three songs and two drums (bands) and the youngsters were still not in the arena. I was a little pressed for time with a warm day and two dogs in the van but I got some photos and videos. You can see them here:
http://picasaweb.google.com/sroberts.wyoming

Star Weed, a 92 year old elder told tales and prayed in Shoshone and English. He asked for blessings on everybody from the President to the automobiles ("so the people can be happy"-was a frequent refrain)

Native Americans humble me-they are very patriotic and if anybody could understandably be less than enthusiastic about the United States government it is indigenous people. But they wave the flag and honor their veterans with fervor.

I love powwows. I see some of the same dancers year after year and some are slowing down but their dignity grows.