great powwow

The New Windsor powwow turned out really great! The weather was fine for a change, cool and dry for the most part. It got a little hotter saturday afternoon than I expected, but not too bad, and the rain held off sunday.
The only hitch was that one of the invited drums didn't show up, leaving only one, but they did a fantasic job under pressure. I can tell you that trying to do something like this without a backup drum is a real challenge, but they pulled it off. They were the Neewaynon singers out of wisconsin. Thanks guys and ladies!
The only problem caused by this is that the MC had to give them a lot of breaks, so we didn't have as many intertribals as I would have liked, but it had to be that way.
There were a lot of people there, dancers and spectators. Saturday there was at least one of every type of dancer, something you don't see around here too often, so we had some great exibitions. The spectators were really getting out there, too, which caused some great energy at times.
During the weekend they chose a new princess, little princess, warrior, and little warrior, and they got some fantastic young people to represent the powwow.
There was a fine feast saturday, with barbecued buffaloe, roast turkey, salads, and deserts. Everyone got plenty to eat.
Good weather, good singing, good dancing, good food, and good people. What more could you ask for!

powwow this weekend

I guess most people know by now that the prison visit was called off because they were all in lockdown due to racial tension. I don't know if there is going to be a rescheduling or not. It would be very hard but might be possible.
We were going to present their new drum.
We will have practice friday at Jerry's, unless there is a sign on his door. We still may go to Ellen's sometime before she gets back. Also, don't forget the New Windsor powwow this weekend, it looks like the weather will be fantastic, finally.
Rick and Jen are geting married sat., July 1st in Little York. I don't have all the details handy, but it's in the afternoon, and any of us can get back to you.
Cogratulations!
It looks like Ellen will be back the last of july or first of august.
We sure miss her.

I just found the swearing in ceremony of new members of the Five Nations council.I wish our politicians had to obey this:


We now crown you with the sacred emblem of the deer's antlers, the emblem of your Lordship. You shall now become a mentor of the people of the Five Nations. The thickness of your skin shall be seven spans - which is to say that you shall be filled with peace and goodwill and your mind filled with a yearning for the welfare of the people of the Confederacy.

With the endless patience you shall carry out your duty, and your firmness shall be tempered with tenderness for your people. Neither anger nor fury shall lodge in your mind, and all your words and actions shall be marked with calm deliberation.

In all your deliberations in the Council, in your efforts at lawmaking, in all your official acts, self-interest shall be cast into oblivion. Cast not away the warnings of any others, if they should chide you for any error or wrong you may do, but return to the way of the Great Law, which is just and right.

Look and listen for the welfare of the whole people and have always in view not only the present but also the coming generations, even those whose faces are yet beneath the surface of the earth - the unborn of the future Nation.

Constitution of the Five Nations


P.S. I am still putting up pictures slowly. Check them out at inali pictures in the links list.

lockdown at Pekin fed

I guess we won't be going into the prison tomorrow, they are under total lockdown due to racial riots. We knew this could happen. And the new drum is ready for them.

A VISITOR FROM FAR AWAY

We had an intesting visitor at friday's practice. It started as an ordinary practice, not a lot of people but enough. We were taking our first break when Barb showed up, back from Arizona. She wasn't alone, though, with her was a young Hopi gentleman from Hottevilla named Cimmaron. He had been invited here to tell people about his people and their beliefs. Apparently he had never been off the rez, so everything was new to him. He listened to our songs, and talked about his ways and why he was here, joined us in prayer, and presented us with a gift for the drum. We were very honored.
The next day was the Pimitoui powwow. Saturday was cold and rainy, they gourd danced under a tent and didn't do anything more till 3:00, when they started intertibal dancing with no grand entry. That evening they tried again, but it was still cold and few people were there.
Sunday was a lot better, the clouds broke up, it cleared off, and there was a great grand entry and several hours of great dancing and specials. A lot more people, dancers and spectators, were there.
Cimmaron was there both days, and gave a talk sunday which I unfortunately missed. This was his first powwow (Hopi don't have powwows), so I had the honor to escort him in for grand entry so he would know what to do. Later he had an honor song, and carried one of only 7 Hopi flags in existence, which the elders had allowed him to bring with him. The whole circle was honored. All in all, a great weekend.
Don't forget the prison saturday and the New Windsor powwow the next weekend. Also, the sacred run ceremonies will be the 24th at 1:00 at Dickson Mounds.

not much to say

Sorry this is late, I have been having trouble accessing the blog lately, hope they get it fixed.
Don't forget practice friday, it will be at Jerry's unless there is a sign on the door.Also the pimiteoui powwow this weekend. Can you believe they are saying it might rain! I would like to do some dancing finally.
The men's prison powwow is saturday the 17th, be there by 11:00.
Powwows.com has live streaming coverage of the Red Earth powwow this weekend if you're interested.

geat prayer

I just found this great prayer:

CONTENTS
Earth Prayer

"Grandfather, Great Spirit, once more behold me on earth and lean to hear my feeble voice. You lived first, and you are older than all need, older than all prayer. All things belong to you -- the two-legged, the four-legged, the wings of the air,
and all green things that live.

"You have set the powers of the four quarters of the earth to cross each other. You have made me cross the good road and road of difficulties, and where they cross, the place is holy. Day in, day out, forevermore, you are the life of things."

Hey! Lean to hear my feeble voice.
At the center of the sacred hoop
You have said that I should make the tree to bloom.

With tears running, O Great Spirit, my Grandfather,
With running eyes I must say
The tree has never bloomed

Here I stand, and the tree is withered.
Again, I recall the great vision you gave me.

It may be that some little root of the sacred tree still lives.
Nourish it then
That it may leaf
And bloom
And fill with singing birds!

Hear me, that the people may once again
Find the good road
And the shielding tree.


I think this is amazing.
It's from Black Elk

fun at the rendesvous

We had fun at the rendevous last weekend, even though it got into the mid 90's both days.
The turnout was sparse, both the public and the rendevous'ers, but we had a good group turnout, and did a lot of good singing and dancing.
Saturday Richard had to work, but the rest of the men and most of the ladies were there. We sang a lot of intertribals and some round dances, and Katie,Miranda, and Rosa did a great fancy shawl and a crow hop. The rest of the ladies danced a lot, and a few people joined us, including some kids.
Sunday Richard surprised us all by showing up (well, I knew, but I didn,t tell) and we had another great day. This time, a gentlemen had brought his traditional regalia, and gave us a war dance and a sneakup.
Check out the pictures at my picture sight, inalipics in the link list.
Tuesday at practice we blessed the new prison drum, then sang a bunch of veteran songs with it. Man, it has a great northern sound. We sang a bunch of other songs, and ended with a prayer song, so it should be ready as soon as we can get it in.
The next friday practice will probably be at Jerry's, but if not there will be signs on his door.
Don,t forget the pimitoui powwow the weekend after this.