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.
-
Lorie Shaull/KAXEResearch indicates that in the coming decades, the state is likely to see more risk days of wildfires starting on the ground due to more extreme droughts connected to climate change. -
Matt C/UnsplashWomen Explore Fire Day in Minnesota offers hands-on opportunities to learn more about volunteer, paid on-call and full-time positions in local fire departments in all regions. -
Contributed/Minnesota Department of Natural ResourcesAfter 10,000 tree seedlings were claimed within 48 hours, the ReForest Bemidji program secured an additional 5,000 trees for its distribution May 18, 2026. -
Lorie ShaullA recent national study found an increasing number of federal environmental impact statements are receiving significant contributions from citizen science data. -
The multi-bill omnibus signed April 21, 2026, allows happy hours for nursing home residents without a license and expands local authority in some Northern MN communities. -
The bill would define e-bikes as having output of no more than 750 watts, and motorized bicycles, 750-1,500 watts. Anything with higher power is defined as an electric motorcycle. -
Three of the communities receiving grant funding in this cycle are in Northern Minnesota: Floodwood, Fosston and Deer River. -
Lorie ShaullRising health care costs are stressing K-12 teachers whose pay is already estimated to lag similarly educated professionals by more than 30%, according to a 2025 study. -
Plus: Local and regional political organizers have been endorsing candidates for state and federal office; and a Hermantown speaker wins category while 22 other Northland speakers earned medals in state tourney. -
The bill would establish rules for field trip supervision, improve mandatory reporting to include grooming and create a new felony offense for child grooming.
