Growing up, I would spend a week each summer with my brother visiting our grandparents in Oklahoma. Grandma and Grandpa lived on a 40-acre farm, 20 minutes down a dirt road outside of Stroud. For those of you unfamiliar, Stroud itself is in the middle of nowhere and has a population of about 3,000 people. 

We loved visiting. Aside from bottle feeding calves, climbing trees, and playing with Dot Com the border collie, we often got to go to events in town with Grandma. Two of my favorite things to do were the rodeo and the pow-wow. 

We always flew to see her in June or July, so if the schedule aligned, we would go to the Sac and Fox Nation Pow-Wow. Grandma was half Cherokee (at this time I will note that I am not related to Grandma by blood, and I am 0% Native American) and she had been going to pow-wows for years. 

Grandma had a complicated relationship with her Native American heritage – her father taught her to be ashamed of it. He even forbade her from dating or marrying a Native man when she was younger because it would be “too much Native blood”. Despite this, Grandma held a fascination Native American culture. She collected Native poetry, and she owned quite a few patterns for traditional dresses. She could even speak Cherokee when she was younger. (Evidently, she tricked my grandfather by replying to his marriage proposal in Cherokee that she would only marry him if he gave her his horse. He agreed, not knowing what she was saying. They got married, and she got his horse!) However, her fluency was discouraged by her father, and eventually she lost the skill. I think going to the Pow-Wow was very special to her.

Food

We always arrived in the late afternoon, a little before sunset. The pow-wow was held in an open field outside of town with a large parking area next to it. Tents, food trucks, temporary bleachers, camp chairs, and benches transformed the clearing into a celebration. There was usually a row of food stalls and trucks selling everything from American fair classics like funnel cakes and corn dogs to more complete meals. As a child, my attention was mainly focused on the prominently displayed, sugar-scented funnel cakes. However, most pow-wows also make an effort to serve traditional foods unique to their nation. The food aisle was always busy, and the vendors selling cold drinks stayed busy, as it would usually still be quite hot, even as the sun started to sink towards the horizon.  

Artisan’s Stalls

Along with the food, there were many artisans’ tents. Grandma and I were both big shoppers, so I remember quite clearly the jewelry we pored over. The designs ranged from simple to intricate with the primary materials being beads, feathers, turquoise, and silver. We would occasionally buy a piece, before moving past the other tents. A great deal of leatherwork was also on display: hats, wallets, and belts. The air around these stalls always smelled different- a sharp, tannic scent. In addition, some tents sold components of intricate dance costumes: dresses with bells sewn onto the hem, belts of metal plates, moccasins of soft leather and beads, headdresses crowned with feathers. Hand fans, also made of feathers, brightly colored shawls with long fringe. It was enjoyable to look at everything, and even more fun to watch the artists work. Some of them did so while manning their stalls. 

While it was neat to walk around and see everything, the main attraction was the dancing. At sunset proper, we would go find a spot to sit or stand somewhere on the edge of the main clearing. There was a drum circle in the center, usually consisting of several male elders. They would use short, decorated mallets to hit the large drums, often with multiple men playing each drum. They often kept bottles of water by their seats, which as a child I thought was odd. But that drum circle is responsible for producing music all night, so I am sure the water is needed.

There was an announcer’s tent off to the side, where the announcer and tribal leaders sat. There may have also been judges, since some of the dancers wore numbers, and the more intricate dancer performed later in the night were also competitions. Things kicked off with the “grand entrance”. This was a parade of participants, and it included everyone that would dance that night. The dancers didn’t just walk; instead, they performed a sort of shuffling two-step to the beat of the drum. The line of people would wind closer to the center of the field in a spiral, allowing everyone to fit into the field. It was a great chance to admire the costumes, as the beat was steady and sedate, and the motions subdued (at least compared to later dances). 

Dancing and Music

After the grand entry, the dancers started their performances. They were usually separated by gender and age. The youngest dancers were only six years old. My favorite dances included the Women’s Jingle Dress and the Men’s Fancy Dance. The Jingle Dress dance had special outfits outfitted with metal cones (called jingles) that chimed and jingled with each step. Similarly, the regalia for Men’s Fancy Dance included elaborate feathers and streamers trailing from… well, everywhere. It was also super fast-paced and elaborate with energetic high steps and spins. (I also liked that category because a lot of younger men enter this category due to the athleticism required.)

As the participants danced, the drum circle kept the beat and provided choral accompaniment with singing and chanting. The raiment and footfalls of the dancers themselves added to the sound, emphasizing rhythm and dynamic volume. 

Between dances, the announcer would read prayers, announce the upcoming dance category, introduce tribal leaders, and keep the assembly moving along. The dancing would go late into the night. As a child I don’t think we ever stayed until the end, as we had a long drive back home. I always spent the drive home staring out into the dark countryside, my mind drifting back to the dancing, and the drums still ringing in my ears. 

Final Notes

I attended the Sac and Fox Nation Pow-Wow probably five or six times and it never stopped being special and engaging. Most pow-wows are open to the public, and attending is a great way to support that nation. Even if entry is free, (like it is at the Sac and Fox one) buying food, jewelry, or other goods from the vendors supports those artisans. Keep in mind these are large tribal gatherings that span many days. The Sac and Fox Nation Pow-wow garners an estimated 10,000 people attending. It will be crowded! Amenities are also commensurate to the location. Bathrooms are portapotties, and trashcans, seating, food, and shade are limited to what is provided. 

Attending is a really unique experience that gives an insight into another culture. In one place you can get a sense of traditional food, crafts, regalia, dance, music and spiritual practices. Sometimes you don’t have to go far to have adventures, you just have to look at what’s going on around you!

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All photos used in this article are credited to the Sac and Fox nation social media team