Here are some photos from The United Indians of All Tribes Pow Wow at Discovery Park this past weekend. As Brendan Kiley would say, a celebration of some serious Indianness, plus Mayor Mike McGinn all wrapped up in a nice blanket, and congressman Jay Inslee keeping an eye on the salmon grill.
- Kelly O
- A non-ironic, hipster-free headdress
More photos after the jump!
Pow Wow Parking Lot…
…just in from Yakima
Also Yakima…
My favorite (and only) friend from Oklahoma, Mickey Mason
‘Lawton Wood Blvd’ officially renamed Bernie Whitebear Way
Thank you Mike McGinn
Grand entry, sunny Saturday
Who’s hungry?
Jay Inslee’s hungry!
Shopping…
Sunday’s rainy Grand Entry
All photos Kelly O
Those pictures are great and the costumes are incredible! I’ve never seen any images from this event. Thanks for posting.
Mickey Masin’s getup is the most gorgeous suit of clothes I have ever seen.
I wish there was more information here rather than just “lookit”. Mickey Masin is from Oklahoma, but he’s also from another nation, which remains unidentified. Google doesn’t help. There are a LOT of tribes in Oklahoma today, many of which were not originally from there. What do the different parts of his outfit signify? Who made it? How historical is it, and what elements are more modern? How does this aspect of you and your people relate to the world of today, which doesn’t often acknowledge who you even are? Even “how come there’s no information about this on Google?” And so on.
A gathering organizer says “it’s critical that visitors understand the history of the tribes” but I can’t find any information on what that history is, or how it is conveyed by the regalia and dances, just the spectacle of it (which is incredible). Did no one ask anyone? I understand that the cultures have been decimated and many of the stories destroyed forever but some still exist and still resonate. I would like to hear more of that resonance. I would like to hear Mr. Masin’s story. And the others, the Yakama and so on, as well. Something to make this more than just “oh, look how pretty, look, another one” for the white people, especially with so many great out-of-town (non-Western WA) tribal visitors.
I hope this sounds more like a genuine and respectful desire than just a cranky criticism.
Know what I appreciate about those photos? Very few are taken from an ironically tilted angle.
Yes, they look like they’re taken by loving family members.
The saddest book I’ve ever read is “In a Barren Land: American Indian Dispossession and Survival” by Paula Mitchell Marks — the story of the crushing of tribes from 1607 to 1996.
dang i wish I could have made it up there, did not hear about it until it was over… better plan ahead for next summer
@2 – I just fixed his last name. It’s Mason. It was misspelled on the event program….
He’s a member of Caddo Nation: http://www.caddonation-nsn.gov/history/c…
I wish he was around to tell you about his regalia! I should have asked to videotape him again (I talked to him in 2007, start at 3:36: http://youtu.be/WF5WFYpHdf8)
He had much to say about the meaning of the eagle feathers. And he also told me about this story: http://www.reznetnews.org/node/137
I believe he said he was a veteren, too, thus the row of brass bullets forming the middle row of his breastplate.
Here’s a nice editorial about him:
http://stpaulseattle.blogspot.com/2010/0…
As far as the Yakima fellows, I was shy. Very, very shy.
also learned, this year:
– never refer to dancer’s regalia as “costume”
– never touch a dancer’s regalia, and
– never pick up a feather from the ground
– no pets:
“The Powwow Arena is a sacred place from the time it is blessed until the Powwow is over. At no time should pets be allowed in the Arena. No animals allowed except seeing eye animals allowed on Powwow grounds”
there were several dogs running around anyway, and they got some disapproving looks
@6, that’s awesome, thank you.
@8, you awesome. and you should go next year!
If awesome means feeling you have post SOMETHING on EVERY topic under the sun then yeah, he’s awesome as ALL HELL.
Back on topic: pass the peace pipe.
Sad I missed this!
I’ll try to get my family in Oregon to come up next year.
@10 my posts are thoughtful, informed, expository, pertinent and well-crafted. Yours?
@12 – your posts are gaseous, arrogantly opinionated and diffuse to the point of worthlessness. They are the SLOG equivalent of a carpet bombing. Is there NOTHING you won’t bloviate upon? ACK!!!
I love Fnarf, for the motherfucking record.
Kelly, thanks for the gorgeous photos and links to more info. I live a couple blocks from Salt Lake City’s Liberty Park where an annual Ute/Piute Powwow is held and it’s one of my favorite things all year.
@13, I do my best. You, on the other hand, are apparently uninterested in anything you can’t fuck. And, dear oh dear, what have we here? “Pass the peace pipe”. You’re a fucking racist as well. OK then. You win, I’m the bad guy.
@13..i second the love for fnarf..and then only because someboduy else was first.
..oh… and kelly.. these are really lovely..i’m going next year too..thanks
Yes, you gormless literalist, I am a racist like Cory Daye: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VM0BOsAr8…
Nobody cares about your e-drama.
Least of all me.
Frybread!
@2 Totally agree on the visual impact on Mr. Mason’s clothes. Sartorial splendor is something that straight white guys just have to admire in others that have the gift.
While wanting to know the back story behind the regalia can be enlightening, I like to let the visuals impart meaning. There are some things that just don’t fit into words, like the emotional bonds of culture. Shutting off that internal verbal dialog is the path to the spiritual, and a Pow Wow is clearly a spiritual event.
BUT don’t stop advancing the conversation, whatever it may be. You can’t learn about life if you don’t engage it!