BEMIDJI — Dancers in traditional Ojibwe dress and drum groups gathered in celebration of holistic healing Thursday, Aug. 17, at the 18th Annual Niimi’idiwin (powwow) at the Sanford Bemidji Medical Center.
Presented by Sanford Bemidji, Red Lake Indian Health Service Hospital and Cass Lake Indian Health Service Hospital, the celebration recognized the community’s Ojibwe heritage in the field west of the Bemidji hospital.
A pipe ceremony and grand entry featuring local tribal and Bemidji honor guard members began the festivities. The powwow featured men's grass dance, women’s jingle dance, men's and women's traditional dance, a potato dance and spot dances.
Those gathered for the powwow enjoyed a feast of Red Lake walleye with traditional fixings.
Darryl Kingbird was the powwow emcee and Gary Charwood was the arena director and spiritual adviser. Invited drum groups included Ojibwe Nation, Smokey Hill and Young Kingbird.
Kingbird provided background and knowledge to the dances performed, such as the Women's Traditional, remarking on the grace and wisdom of the grandmother's dance.
Joe Beaudreau, with Sanford Behavioral Health and a lead coordinator of the Niimi'idiwin, remarked that the event was a "great way to get people together," acknowledging a traditional powwow is three days, but the Sanford Niimi'idiwin provides the community a sampler of an Ojibwe powwow.
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