The Odawa Pow Wow

Aug. 9, 2009

A Cultural Opportunity:
The Odawa Pow Wow
By Kristi Kates 8/10/09
“I think for a lot of the general public, Indian people are only about gaming and casinos. We are so much more than that.” So says Annette VanDeCar, communi-cations coordinator for the Little Traverse Bay Band of Odawa Indians, who is looking forward to celebrating the traditional side of the tribe at this week’s Odawa Homecoming Pow Wow in Harbor Springs. (Of note, the Peshawbestown Traditional Pow Wow is also planned this weekend, Aug. 15-16, four miles north of Suttons Bay.) Many people residing in or visiting Northern Michigan may only be aware of the Odawa Indians through their involvement with the Odawa Casino in Petoskey. As VanDeCar notes, many stereotypes still surround Northern Michigan’s Native Americans. “People tend to think we look and act like the Indians they saw in the old Westerns,” VanDeCar explains. “They fail to see us in a modern, contemporary setting. Many are surprised to learn we have our own sovereign nations and have our own sovereign governments. I think people are slowly letting go of the stereotypes, but many still exist.” EARLY HISTORY One way that the Odawa honor their culture and introduce it to others is via the yearly Homecoming Pow Wow, held in Harbor Springs. The Pow Wow is both a celebration and a contest, in which native dancers compete for honor and prizes. The Pow Wow originally began as an Indian Naming Ceremony in 1934. At these ceremonies, non-Indian individuals who helped Native people and their causes were honored by being “adopted” into the tribe and given Indian names. The Naming Ceremony eventually evolved into a yearly production of the elaborate play “Hiawatha,” which was performed in the Ottawa Indian Stadium in Harbor Springs until the 1960s. In 1992, the First Annual Odawa Homecoming Pow Wow was held at that same locale. Hosted by the Andrew J. Blackbird Museum in Harbor Springs, the Pow Wow served to bring the Odawa people back to the stadium for singing and dancing, and to educate the community about who they were. The Pow Wow was moved from the Ottawa Stadium to its current location on Pleasantview Road in 2002; the new locale brought the Pow Wow to tribal property. VanDeCar co-chairs the event along with LTBB Cultural Preservation Director Winnay Wemigwase. DRUMS AND DANCES Events included in the Pow Wow each year are as varied as the tribal members themselves. The main events include the Grand Entries, the Flag Song, the Veterans Song, Invocation, special presentation dances, contest dancing (in which only registered dancers may participate), and “Intertribal” dances, where anyone may dance, including audience members, in order to help bring the communities together. Drums are also a core element of the Pow Wow, and appear in several forms. “The drum calls the dancers into the dance arena and symbolizes a heartbeat,” VanDeCar says. “Some songs are very old and passed down from generation to generation; some songs are new and are created by individual members of the drum group. The songs are usually sung in the group’s Native language.” This year, in a twist from previous years, the Pow Wow will feature invited drums only, instead of the usual drum competition. “We have a host drum, and four invited drums,” VanDeCar says, “this is something new we are trying this year to see how it goes.” Many of the dances and traditions, as VanDeCar further explains, are also very old, but allow the general public to see Native American people in a more contemporary setting. “For many of us, we walk in two very different worlds,” she says, “the Pow Wow shows people we are comfortable in both worlds. It is very important to our people that we maintain our traditions, but we are also a part of mainstream society. When not dancing or drumming, Pow Wow participants are generally willing to answer spectators’ questions about the dances, drums, or their regalia.” (“Regalia” being the formal term for the intricate, colorful, and stunning clothing worn by the dancers.) SHARING TRADITIONS This year’s event will also include an encore appearance from See-North’s Birds of Prey; “this was a huge success last year, so we asked if See-North could return this year,” VanDeCar says. In addition to the dancing, drumming, See-North, and other presentations, Native American vendors will also be on site to sell Native American arts, crafts, and cuisine. Some of the delicious, and more unusual, Native American foods include Indian tacos, fry bread, and corn soup. “People are also allowed to bring their own food and beverages, but alcohol is strictly prohibited,” VanDeCar says, “anyone with alcohol will be asked to leave the event.” As long as the rules are respected, the Pow Wow is free of charge, and open to all, a fact that VanDeCar says has been another subject of misconception in the past. “I would like to emphasize the fact the Pow Wow is open to the public,” she says, “I’ve heard many people over the years say that they’ve always wanted to attend the Pow Wow, but thought only Indians were allowed to attend. There are certain parts of the Pow Wow where only native people or veterans or dancers are allowed to participate; but the MC will announce when that is the case.” “We are very open to sharing our culture and traditions,” she concludes, “and the Pow Wow is an excellent opportunity to get a small glimpse into our world.” The LTBB Odawa Homecoming Pow Wow will be held on August 15-16 on Pleasantview Road at the Pow Wow grounds in Harbor Springs; there is limited camping available near the grounds on a first-arrival basis. Grand Entry times are at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday, and noon on Sunday; vendors are open for business beginning at 11 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The Pow Wow is set to run until approximately 9 p.m. on Saturday, and 5 p.m. on Sunday; it is free and open to all. The Peshawbestown Traditional Pow Wow is also planned this weekend, Aug. 15-16, with traditional drummers and dancers four miles north of Suttons Bay. A community feast will be held Friday, Aug. 14 at 5 p.m. at the site.