From Baxter Black to the Powwow Idol

Powwow Idol

To find the best unsigned powwow drum group in Indian Country, DrumHop Productions kicked off an online competition called Powwow Idol.

The sophomore contest of Powwow Idol held in 2010 wiped out the drum groups hailing from the American West, including Soldier Hill from Montana and Plain Drifterz from Oklahoma. On June 6, a Canadian victor became the Powwow Idol: Chippewa Travellers, from Ontario, with 15 singers, plus the Smoke Family.

Chippewa Travellers’ drums will become the heartbeat that powwow dancers step to at the 2011 Gathering of Nations in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Numerous drum groups and dancers will celebrate their native traditions at the following upcoming powwows, and into the next year.

 

Northern Arapaho Experience

Northern Arapaho Nation – Now through Aug. 31, 2010 • Riverton, WY

307-856-3964 • WindRiverCasino.com

Big Wind Powwow

Arapaho & Shoshone Nations
August 14-16, 2010 • Crowheart, WY
800-645-6233 • Wind-River.org

 

The Next Act: Be sure to dine at Red Willow Restaurant inside the Wind River Casino. If you’re lucky, the grass-fed beef will be on special. This beef comes straight from the Arapaho Ranch, which, at 595,000 acres, is the nation’s largest certified organic operation. If the restaurant does not have it, you can take some home with you. Arapaho Ranch beef is available for purchase at the 789 Smokeshop in Riverton.

 

Intertribal Indian Ceremonial

Apache, Hopi, Kiowa, Pima and San Juan Nations

August 11-15, 2010 • Gallup, NM
505-863-3896 • TheCeremonial.com

 

The Next Act: The best known of Gallup’s hundreds of galleries and trading posts are Perry Null Trading Company, Shush Yaz and Richardson’s. Yet what most don’t know is that Richardson’s offers free group tours, about two-and-a-half hours long, which share the history of Indian trade; corral up a sizeable group and call 505-722-4762 to make arrangements.

 

Shoshone-Bannock Indian Festival

Shoshone-Bannock Nation

August 12-15, 2010 • Fort Hall, ID
208-238-0680 • ShoshoneBannockTribes.com

 

The Next Act: The Green T (officially Green Triangle) is where the local cowboys and college students mix and mingle. You got your mechanical bull, and even an occasional shoot-out we hear, since co-owner Dana Jo Hillman holds eight world titles in cowboy action shooting. What to eat: Prime rib is excellent; onion rings are huge and “not all batter and no onion,” the locals tell us.

 

Circle of Life Intertribal Powwow

Numerous Tribes Represented

September 3-5, 2010 • Bandera, TX
830-328-9992 • CelebrateBandera.com

 

The Next Act: Dust your boots off at Arkey Blue’s Silver Dollar Saloon and enjoy authentic Country music at this honkytonk. Owner Arkey Blue has been performing there since he bought the place in 1968. Singers mostly cover the classics— Ray Price, Lefty and Kitty Wells on Friday and Saturday nights.

 

Prescott Intertribal Social Powwow

Numerous Tribes Represented

September 10-12, 2010 • Prescott, AZ

928-649-0474 • PrescottPowwowCommittee.org

 

The Next Act: Paul Calhoon insists on authenticity, which is why you’ll find Hopi Kachina dolls on the west wall of his trading post, not Navajo Kachinas (dolls manufactured purely for the tourist trade).
He runs the Attic Hogan, started by his father in 1970. Paul keeps extensive records on each of the artists who make the handmade items. The circle of life is strong here.

 

Shiprock Navajo Fair

Navajo Nation

October 1-3, 2010 • Shiprock, NM
505-368-3727 • ShiprockNavajoFair.org

The Next Act: Extend your trip to October 8 for the Crownpoint Navajo Rug Auction, where your pocketbook will thank you because buying directly from the artists saves you two or three times what you would pay off the reservation. Hundreds of handmade Navajo rugs, as well as jewelry, pottery and beadwork are for sale.

 

Black Hills Powwow

Lakota, Nakota & Dakota Nations

October 8-10, 2010 • Rapid City, SD
605-341-0925 • BlackHillsPowwow.com

 

The Next Act: Learn Lakota legends at the Sioux Indian Museum inside the Journey Museum Complex. Also check out the more than 2,600 styles of historic beads in the Italian Bead Library at Prairie Edge Trading Company—almost a museum in itself with its offerings of star quilts, jewelry, pottery, trade cloth, buffalo parts and other crafts and artwork by Northern Plains artists. (Don’t forget to grab a beer and buffalo burger next door at the Firehouse Brewing Company.)

 

Austin Powwow

Numerous Tribes Represented

November 6, 2010 • Sunset Valley, TX
512-371-0628 • AustinPowwow.org

 

The Next Act: Tune your radio to 91.7 FM for “NdN Heart Beat” for Ken McKenzi-Grant’s playlist of contemporary and traditional American Indian music on Thursday. Music lovers will also appreciate Austin’s Texas Music Museum, which not only celebrates American Indian music, but also Tejano, Texas Jazz and cowboy songs.

 

2011 Powwows

World Championship Hoop Dance Contest
February 5-6, 2011 • Phoenix, AZ
602-252-8848 • Heard.org

Denver March Pow Wow
March 18-20, 2011 • Denver, CO
303-934-8045 • DenverMarchPowwow.org

Gathering of Nations
April 28-30, 2011 • Albuquerque, NM
505-836-2810 • GatheringOfNations.com

AIHREA Health & Wellness Powwow
May 6-7, 2011 • Overland Park, KS
913-469-8500 • JCCC.edu

Spring Bear Pow Wow
May 14, 2011 • Denver, CO
RavenDancers.org

American River College Pow Wow
May TBA, 2011 • Sacramento, CA
916- 484-8987 • ARC.LosRios.edu

Gathering of Champions
May TBA, 2011 • Sioux City, IA
800-593-2228

Tesoro Foundation Indian Market & Powwow

May TBA, 2011 • Morrison, CO
303-839-1671 • TesoroFoundation.org

Friends of the Intertribal Gathering
June TBA, 2011 • Fort Robinson, NE
308-632-1311 • PanhandlerCD.com

Red Earth Festival
June TBA, 2011 • Oklahoma City, OK
405-427-5228 • RedEarth.org

Eastern Shoshone Indian Days Festival
June TBA, 2011 • Fort Washakie, WY
307-332-9106 • Wind-River.org

Wildhorse Pow Wow
July TBA, 2011 • Pendleton, OR
800-654-9453 • WildHorseResort.com

Tamkaliks Celebration
July TBA, 2011 • Wallowa, OR
541-886-3101 • WallowaNezPerce.org

Julyamsh Pow Wow
July TBA, 2011 • Coeur d’Alene, ID
208-686-2023 • Julyamsh.com

Sacred Visions Pow Wow
July TBA, 2011 • Wadsworth, NV
775-560-1551