Page 10
August 1,1995
Smoke Signals
Friday, August 18
6 p.m.: Royalty Pageant
8 p.m.: Open Drumming and Dancing
Saturday, August 19
7 a.m.: Breakfast
7 a.m.: Volksmarche
8:30 a.m.: Fun RunWalk Activities Begin
9 a.m.: Craft and Food Booths Open
9 a.m.: Co-Ed Softball Tournament
at Grand Ronde Elementary School
10 a.m.: Co-Ed Volleyball Tournament
at the Pow-wow Grounds
11 a.m.: Parade
Everyone is welcome to join the parade.
If you have horses or old cars, come join the-fun.
There will be prizes for different divisions.
Noon: Tribal Meal
1 p.m.: Grand Entry
6 p.m.: Grand Entry
Sunday, August 20
7 a.m.: Breakfast
1 p.m.: Grand Entry
PARKING & CAMPING: Parking will include a raffle
ticket for a drawing to be held at the Pow-wow. There will
also be two additional RV campgrounds set up for people
who want to camp.
DIRECTIONS: Travel west on Hwy. 18 to Grand Ronde,
turn right on Grand Ronde Road (at the Bonanza Restau
rant) and go one mile (tribal grounds on the left). Approxi
mately 30 miles west of Salem; 25 miles west ofMcMinnville;
or 20 miles east of Lincoln City.
PUBLIC IS WELCOME
NO DRUGS OR ALCOHOL PERMITTED
Tips for enjoying the Pow-wow,
without offending or distracting
Pow-wows are celebrations,
social gatherings and friendly
dance competitions. But, as
with the sacred thread that
runs through all of life, there
are sacred traditions to be
found in this coming together
of people.
There is a circle in most
dances, representing the
circle of unity, the cycle of
life. Dancers often follow the
clockwise pattern of the sun.
Some of the costumes or
ornaments signify special
events or honors in a person's
life, or special religious tra
ditions. Everyone is welcome at a
pow-wow, regardless of tribe
non-Indians too. For new
comers to these colorful
events, a bit of explanation
may enhance the enjoyment
and understanding.
When the eagle staff is
brought in during the grand
entry, everyone stands. Hats
are removed in respect. That
same respect is shown should
an eagle feather fall during
the dancing. Everything must
stop until a proper returning
of the feather has been per
formed. Pointing with a finger, par
ticularly the index finger, is
considered impolite. It's best
to indicate a person or direc
tion by pursing the lips and
pointing with the eyes or to
nod in that direction.
As with most events involv
ing concentration, camera
flashes can be distracting.
Ask permission before snap
ping an individual's photo
graph outside the dancing, for
this is private time. Some
pow-wows are more restric
tive than others in terms of
photographing the event.
Do not bother the perform
ers or stand in front of those
preparing to dance or those
singing.
Don't touch any costumes.
Ornaments have special
meanings. Many of the hand
made outfits, which can cost
thousands of dollars, are cher
ished and sometimes are
made by a respected family
member. Frequently they are
heirlooms and may be very
delicate.
Feel free to join in the in
tertribal dances on invitation
of the master of ceremonies.
As with the grass dance, other
'dances have legends or tradi
tions connected with them.
Dances are either for men
or women and competitions
generally are divided into age
categories.
Reprinted in part from Indian
Country Today.
Whistles: the controversy heats
RAPID CITY Their use
at pow-wows throughout In
dian country is becoming
more and more controversial.
Whistles, once owned by few
and hardly ever used, are now
seen in abundance and are
used, according to some, too
frequently.
Cheyenee River Sioux El
der, Sidney Keith explained
the difference between
whistles for pow-wows and
those for ceremonies, or Sun
Dances.
"The whistle man at a pow
wow carries special meaning,
he's not just anybody. He has
to be selected. A spiritual
leader or medicine man has
to choose him. At a pow
wow there are only three or
four whistle men," he said.
It is a great honor to be a
whistle man and that the
whistle is very sacred. He ex
plained that whistle men have
to blow the whistle four times
during a song and that they
have to know a song very well
to blow it at the right time.
Norman Roach, a well
known fancy-dancer from the
Cheyuenne River Sioux Res
ervation, is also concerned
about whistles.
"What's going wrong is, to
day anybody can get a whistle
and not have to earn it. It
doesn't seem like some are
blowing for the people, but
they're blowing for them
selves. This is becoming a
real controversial thing."
He added that the meaning
of a giveaway for some
whistle blowers is getting
lost.
"This is considered a very
sacred act. It used to be fol
lowed by a large giveaway,
as it was explained to me.
Now-a-days, people blow the
whistle and giveaway $5.
The giveaway is supposed to
be big," he said.
"Young people need to be
taught the meaning of the
whistle and who can use
them. They need to under
stand the sacredness."
Submitted by Paul Whitehead.
Reprinted in part from Indian Coun
try Today.