BEMIDJI — Students, staff and community members gathered at Bemidji charter school Trek North on Tuesday, May 26, for the third annual “Honor the Youth” powwow.
Powwows are often hosted over multiple days, but Trek North’s weekday afternoon event featured all the elements, from the sounds of jingle dress dancers, the rhythm of the drum and the shared food and laughter.
Cheyenne Neadeau served on the student powwow committee for the event, which took five months to plan. Neadeau said powwow attendees can expect color guards, dancers and princesses.
“They can also expect a huge community of people," she said. "There[are powwows] anywhere on any reservation, even [Bemidji], there will be powwows.”
Neadeau danced fancy shawl, one of the many different styles of dancing, attire and regalia at powwows.
The events can be hosted in honor of veterans, communities, historical events and future generations.
“As one of our prophecies says, known as the Seven Fires, it says that a generation of children will bring back our culture from extinction, as boarding schools, reservations, everything like that has put our people through a lot of trauma,” Neadeau said.
“The new generation, aka the youth, are said to bring back everything. They are going to bring back the culture, the language, everything that ... our ancestors have taught us, everything our elders have taught us, they are going to bring that back into our world, and it will soon be as great as it once was again.”
Mercede Campbell just graduated from Trek North and was dancing the jingle dress style. The 17-year-old said these events are important for the student body. Around 60% of Trek students are Indigenous.
“I think it's really important to get our youth out here,” Campbell said. “They’re dancing, it's still good to incorporate our culture into the school, especially through ways such as the powwow.”
Memorial Day is often the unofficial “kick off” to the powwow season. Leech Lake and White Earth hosted powwows last weekend.
All are welcome at powwows, and during certain dances, all are welcome to join in. Samantha Fairbanks is Trek North’s American Indian education coordinator and had some powwow etiquette suggestions.
"Definitely come ready to enjoy the show — these dancers put on an excellent show,” Fairbanks said. “Another thing that I would say for ‘don'ts’ is don't misbehave.”
“Another ‘don't’ is to not have any negative energy put into here,” Neadeau added. “You need to put positive energy and just happiness into the community, another gathering with our community just to have fun here and enjoy our time.”
Upcoming powwows in Northern Minnesota include:
- Sah Gii Bah Gah Pow Wow: June 5-7, Nett Lake
- 158th Annual White Earth Treaty Day Celebration and Powwow: June 12-14, White Earth Powwow Grounds, White Earth
- Leech Lake Days Contest Pow Wow: June 19-21, Veterans Memorial Pow Wow Grounds, Cass Lake
- Waa Wiye Gaa Maag (Round Lake) Traditional Pow Wow: June 26-28, S. Lake
- Red Lake Nation Independence Day Celebration and Powwow: July 7-9, Red Lake
- Fond du Lac Band Veterans Powwow: July 10-12, Mash Ka Wisen Powwow Grounds, Sawyer
- Mii Gwitch Mahnomen Days Traditional Pow Wow: July 17-19, Ball Club
- Onigum Traditional Pow Wow: July 24-26, Onigum
- Grand Portage Rendezvous Days Celebration Powwow: Aug. 7-9, Grand Portage
- O-Bah-Shiing Powwow: Sept. 4-6, Ponemah
- Sagasweiwe Traditional Pow Wow: Sept. 11-13, Veterans Memorial Pow Wow Grounds, Cass Lake
- Battle Point Traditional Pow Wow: Sept. 18-20, Battle/Sugar Point
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