Standing Arrow Powwow draws dancers, drums, and spectators
Jul. 20—Kootenai War Chief Mike Kenmille led the Veteran Warrior Society flag bearers as the Ksanka Standing Arrow Powwow opened with the 7 p.m. grand entry on July 14.
Dancers, drums and families from across the Northwest, Canada, and further south gathered at the powwow grounds in Elmo for a warm weekend of dancing, stick games, visiting and food.
Hawaiian Kimokeo Kapahulehua and friends honored the Kootenai with a traditional Hawaiian ceremony. The Kootenai honored Kapahulehua and the Silver Linings Paddlepalooza 2023 breast cancer survivors, as well as veterans.
With $50,000 in dancing contest prize money, dancers flocked to the powwow. Beautiful beadwork, quillwork, elk teeth, bells, bustles, and feathers decorated the regalia. Warm weather made dancing in buckskin a hot proposition, but lots of water and occasional swims in Flathead Lake kept contestants and spectators cooler.
An impressive array of drums included Chief Cliff, Midnight Express, Bad Eagle, Willow Creek, Sharpshooter, Heart Butte, Blackfoot Confederacy, Bad Canyon and Gray Boy.
New Kootenai royalty was crowned at the powwow. The 2023-2024 Miss Kootenai is Abagail Lei, and the Kootenai Warrior is Jackson Horn Weasel.
Food vendors sold frybread as well as many other treats and drinks. Beadwork, jewelry, and Native American print fabric items were also for sale.
The powwow, which began in 1979, has grown a lot, but there's still a warm, inviting feel to the annual event.
