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United Tribes gears up for annual powwow

Aug 23, 2007 - 08:57:28 CDT

By Tony Spilde/Bismarck Tribune

Those good pedagogues out at United Tribes Technical College would certainly agree that a mind is a terrible thing to waste.

As for the annual powwow, on the other hand, it would be a good thing if it was a waste.

Literally.

In Lakota, “waste” translates to “good.” “Wacipi Waste,” or “good gathering,” is the theme for the 38th annual United Tribes International Powwow. The colorful cultural event will take place Sept. 6-9 in Bismarck. It’s one of the longest-running contest powwows in the country, and brings thousands of people to town every year.

A multimedia work by Arizona artist Don Brewer, “Wacipi Waste,” is an image of a dancer in bright regalia. It’s very representative of the hundreds of contest dancers who will compete in Lone Star Arena. Brewer said his piece is meant to show that physical-spiritual moment dancers experience while performing.

“When a dancer is out there in the arena, listening only to the drum and the singing, he transcends the here and now,” Brewer said. “You go to another level, you’re not even there.”

Brewer said that sensation is one of the truly joyous and good things of the powwow.

If spectators can’t quite take that trip, they can at least enjoy the pageantry, culture and driving drum beats that pulse from the arena. It makes United Tribes a completely different place from the sleepy, tree-lined campus it is right now.

“It gets very busy, to say the least,” said Karen Paetz, powwow chairwoman. “The students will have just returned for the fall semester, therefore the activity and the excitement becomes intensified. We’re already getting into the mode of reconnecting with friends and relatives we haven’t seen over the summer. With the onset of the powwow, the excitement is always raised.”

Paetz said the college is proud to host such a successful, longstanding event.

“This is one of our premiere events on campus that we look forward to each year,” she said. “The planning begins the week after the previous powwow ends. Powwow changes, powwow evolves, as it has throughout the generations and the decades. We always take a look at our strengths and weaknesses, to see what we can do better.”

Paetz said the committee had clung to the most traditional dance styles, but as a contest powwow it also has had to adopt some of the more contemporary dances and music. Senior men’s and women’s divisions will take part in dances that are centuries old, she said, while teens and young adults compete in some newer areas.

If it all seems confusing — how the singers and drummers are ranked, how the dancers are judged — just head up to the announcer’s table and look for a committee member. Paetz said any of them will be happy to explain how the powwow works. Also, a tepee will be set up on the north side of campus to serve as an information booth.

If you go out for just one day, Paetz said, make it Saturday night. The grand entry at 7 p.m. Saturday will be the best attended and most colorful, she said. It will be a good introduction to powwow. Another spectacle will be this year’s featured group, Kahurangi. The Maori dance group is made up of indigenous Polynesian people from New Zealand. They’ll perform at 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 3:30 p.m. Sunday.

The pace will be a little slower on Friday, which is the 14th annual Youth Day. Young dancers will compete in several categories.

In addition to the dancers and drum groups, there will be craft and food vendors lining the open-air arena. Paetz said her committee invites everyone from the community to come and check out the powwow.

Though not everyone will show up, of course, the United Tribes powwow attracts about 15,000 visitors a year. It brings in 800 dancers and more than two dozen drum groups, making it one of the last and largest outdoor powwows at the end of summer on the Northern Plains. And this year, as in the past couple, you’ll see dancers and drummers downtown. They will take part in the Parade of Champions on Sept. 8, which will follow Bismarck’s traditional parade route from the Capitol to Kirkwood Mall. The parade begins at 10 a.m.

Tickets for the powwow are available at the gate. They’re $8 for a day pass, and $15 for all weekend. Elders (age 60 and older) and children age 5 and younger get in free.

(Reach reporter Tony Spilde at 250-8260 or tony.spilde@bismarcktribune.com.)

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Comments

Janet in Okieland wrote on Aug 24, 2007 12:47 AM:

" Dang guys, I've been wanting to come up for that powwow for years. Sounds just like powwows here at home in Okieland... guess we'd feel right at home! aaayyye I've been on a few powwow committees before, and it costs a lot of greenbacks for all those porta-johns, security, trash hauling, mowing, electricity, prize money, sashes & crowns, flyers, etc. I'll happily fork over a few bucks to help pay for big ndn doin's, cuz I know how much it costs to put them on, and they're a lot of fun if you don't focus on the contests so much! Enjoy the weekend, and be glad you don't have tornadoes like we had here last weekend. Ponca powwow & World Championship Fancy Dance Contest is down here this weekend. "

Thats Crazy wrote on Aug 23, 2007 5:25 PM:

" The reason the powwow was run that way is because it was passed back and forth to certain families and it just got crazy. I agree it isnt as fun as it used to be but look at some of the people that ran it. HMMM the district chair and one othe feller that was on the planning commission thought it wasnt a place to have fun or visit friends from afar. Thanks for the feed back though...Great!!! "

RLC wrote on Aug 23, 2007 4:26 PM:

" I have some friends (who are native american) and I asked if they were going to the Powwow, they said No. When I asked why they said "It's supposed to be a celebration, our people are supposed to be celebrating. I shouldn't be charged admission to celebrate" They had a good point. I'm not saying that it is free to HOST the event, I know there is a lot of money spent, or rather I assume there is, but they have a good point, it is supposed to be a celebration. Why charge admission to celebrate. That being said, I do enjoy watching the powwow, I think it's a beautiful art! "

smiley wrote on Aug 23, 2007 4:15 PM:

" I enjoy coming to the UTTC powwow every year, and I can't wait to enjoy it again this year! I hope everyone else enjoys their time and stop thinking of things that just damper everyone else's weekend. If you don't have anything nice to say, than don't say anything at all. "

Just Think!! wrote on Aug 23, 2007 4:15 PM:

" All the people that will buy,buy, buy, and eat, eat, and eat. WOW Bismarck I really wonder how much money you will make. But that's on one side on the other it is a time for OUR people to enjoy, enjoy, and enjoy, and visit, visit, and visit, and laugh, laugh, laugh, and dance, dance, and dance. "

donna wrote on Aug 23, 2007 4:04 PM:

" i think the annual pow-wow is an awesome event for our native american culture. anyone (yes-anyone) can attend and should. the colors and music is a wonderful experience. don't bash something you know nothing about. thank you "

Mandan Guy wrote on Aug 23, 2007 3:35 PM:

" I just love it when the City and local businesses raise their prices just for that weekend. What would ever happen if the Wacipi was put on halt in protest to the high price gauging that goes on that weekend. Bismarck makes millions of dollars that weekend, and your welcome. But, the least that you could do is come out and join us, sit with us. This goes on every blessed year. Where is the Gov. and his family? As well as local governing officals and their families? Plus, those local business owners whom we seek out for needs, where are they at? "

bummed! wrote on Aug 23, 2007 3:16 PM:

" Yeah I was bummed I came all the way from wisconsin and it is boring. "

sr person wrote on Aug 23, 2007 2:55 PM:

" geez all anyone does is complain about everything just enjoy the weekend..... "

reader wrote on Aug 23, 2007 2:40 PM:

" I enjoy going to all the rummage sales and visiting old friends "

sr member wrote on Aug 23, 2007 2:15 PM:

" waste is pronounced wah schte as for Long Soldier, when you have people running the celebration that are not pow wow people, then it loses it spirit. no planning, no community involvement, everybody doing their own little thing, no PR. I think I've gone to the celebration for many years and I think two or three years ago was probably one of the best. "

Resident wrote on Aug 23, 2007 1:42 PM:

" Wonderful, I can't wait for the crime rate to jump that weekend. Just like it does every year. "

That means... wrote on Aug 23, 2007 12:59 PM:

" All the local yokels will be having mass quantities of garage sales, trying to unload their junk while all the powwow attendees are in town. It bothers me that so many people schedule their rubbish sales at powwow time. News flash, folks: Wal-Mart, local stores and malls are all open to Native Americans too! "

Great!!!! wrote on Aug 23, 2007 10:23 AM:

" I have a feeling this will turn out way better than long soldiers Ft Yates pow-wow. lol! I hope they have different judges this year. also. Come one come all. I can't wait. "

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