Noted powwow set this weekend
BY CLIFTON ADCOCK World Staff Writer
Thursday, July 17, 2008
7/17/08 at 11:18 AM
One of the state's premier American Indian celebrations, featuring celebrities and traditional ceremonies, will take place this weekend at the Tulsa Convention Center.
The 56th annual Tulsa Pow Wow, organized by the Tulsa Indian Club, is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. Friday and run through Sunday night.
Events will include an appearance by Irene Bedard, an actress whose most famous role has been as the voice of Disney's Pocahontas; a performance by the American Indian rap trio Jaspa Kings; arts-and-crafts booths; and drum and dance contests.
This year's Tulsa Pow Wow Princess Brittany Hill of Tulsa said she has been attending the powwow since she was very young. She added that she enjoys the way the community comes together during the event.
"Everything is memorable," she said. "I look forward to making new friends this coming weekend and meeting a lot of people."
Hill will be crowned at the powwow.
Louis Gray, a board member of the Indian Club, said the origins of the Tulsa Pow Wow and the club date to 1947, when a small group of area tribal members started meeting in one another's homes and having small backyard powwows in Tulsa.
The group founded the Tulsa Indian Club in 1952 and then began to organize larger events designed to continue the cultural practices of the tribes in northeastern Oklahoma.
The club's focus is to showcase prominent individuals, tribal representatives, military veterans and children.
The club hopes that this year's powwow will help revitalize the event. It appears that this year's will be the biggest one in some time, Gray said.
"I think we're going to come roaring back, to where we're going to have an excellent powwow," he said.
The powwow is not just for one tribe, Gray said, "it's for all Indians."
Participants will include members of tribes ranging from Cheyenne, Kiowa Comanche and Lakota to Cherokee and Creek.
The powwow not only serves as a connection to tribal cultural practices but as a sort of homecoming for American Indians in the Tulsa area, Gray said.
"It's a way to connect with traditions in a good, clean way," he said. "It's a place to dance, eat and share memories. That's what the Tulsa Pow Wow is to me."
For more information and a complete schedule of events, go online to tulsaworld.com/tulsapowwow.
Clifton Adcock 581-8462
clifton.adcock@tulsaworld.com
Powwow
schedule
Friday
10 a.m.: Blessing by
Clark Inkanish
4 p.m.: Arts and crafts
open to public
5 p.m.: Contestant and
drum registration opens,
Brush Dance, gourd
dancing
7 p.m.: Grand entry,
opening prayer, invocation,
Memorial Song,
Round Dance
7:30 p.m.: Crowning of
2008-09 Tulsa PowWow
Princess Miss Brittany
M. Hill
8 p.m.: Dress contests
11 p.m.: Veterans songs
Saturday
10 a.m.: Arts and crafts
open to public in Exhibit
Hall C
Noon: Grand entry,
drum contest begins
4:30 p.m.: Performance
by Irene Bedard
5 p.m.: Performance by
the Jaspa Kings
6 p.m.: Gourd dancing
and specials
7 p.m.: Grand entry,
registration closes
11 p.m.: Veterans songs
Sunday
10 a.m.: Arts and crafts
open to public (general
admission) in Exhibit Hall
C
Noon: Gourd dancing
1 p.m.: Grand entry,
special for Tulsa Indian
Club — Tulsa PowWow
Hall of Fame inductees,
Women’s Fancy Feather
contest
5 p.m.: Tulsa Indian
Club presentation of
prizes
8 p.m.: Veterans songs,
closing song and prayer
Associated Images:
Larry Thompson (left) and Butch McIntosh lead the dancersin the grand entry at an August 2007 powwow at the QuikTripCenter. SHERRY BROWN/Tulsa World file
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