Eastern Shawnee powwow starts Friday

WYANDOTTE, Okla. — Family ties, community and Native American culture connect this weekend at the 2024 Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma's annual powwow. The event, which starts Friday and ends Sunday, will include traditional dancing, singing and drumming, as well as vendors and food trucks at the tribe’s powwow grounds, 12515 S.

705 Road in rural Wyandotte. Kelley King, powwow committee chairwoman, said this year’s event will be the biggest since the COVID-19 pandemic. “This is our chance to gather and celebrate our culture, tradition and heritage,” King said.



“We have our dances and pass the tradition down to our youth, from one generation to the next. We like to focus on our youth because it’s important to us to see the culture get passed down.” The event kicks off at 6 p.

m. Friday with the gourd dance and a time of honoring veterans and elders. Grand entry is set for 7:30 p.

m. Friday and Saturday, and for 1 p.m.

Sunday. Neil Lawhead will serve as master of ceremonies. Saturday will include ceremonial dancing in honor of Eastern Shawnee Chief Glenna J.

Wallace, who has served as the tribal leader since 2006. “We welcome everyone to come dance with Chief Wallace,” King said. “It’s a chance to honor her.

” Following each day’s grand entry, an assortment of contests will take place for all ages. Dancers range in age from 2 to 80. “It’s just a good experience and a chance to learn a bit of the Native American culture,” King said.

“The atmosphere is very relaxing. From listening to the great singing to the drums, it’s just very peaceful. It’s the one time of year we can all come together to celebrate our traditions.

” This year’s powwow will feature four drums and a large number of singers. Both, King said, signify how much the event has grown from past years. Another sign of growth, King said, is the number of vendors.

Artisans attending the event will showcase a variety of native wares, including jewelry, beadwork, bows, arrows, moccasins, headbands, knives, fans, leatherwork, and women’s skirts and blouses. Food trucks will be on-site to provide meals. The tribe has also invested in its powwow grounds, adding additional electric spots for those wishing to camp.

King said that while many dances are limited to tribal members, some like the two-step dance, the potato dance and the intertribal dance, are open to all participants. The public is welcome. Rules, King said, include the prohibition of drugs, alcohol and pets.

While tribal members have rules regarding the regalia they wear, the public has a few requirements. Women visiting are asked to wear shirts with sleeves rather than shirts that expose shoulders. Guests are also encouraged to bring lawn chairs because the benches around the grounds are reserved for dancers.

“We hope people leave thinking they’ve gained an interest in our culture,” King said. "We would like for them to just enjoy themselves and see the warmth of our culture.” In addition to Lawhead, powwow leaders include Dillon Moore, head man; and Melanie Motah, head lady.

Joel Motah, from the Comanche Nation Singers, will serve as the head singer. King said she loves the sound of the singing and the drums at the powwow. “It’s peaceful,” she said.

“It just makes you feel at peace.” Weekend events also include the Tecumseh Warrior Challenge on Saturday at the Eastern Shawnee Wellness Center, 10135 S. Bluejacket Road, in Wyandotte.

It includes a race heat and a 1-mile fun run, both kicking off at 9 a.m. The 15th annual Eastern Shawnee Pow Wow Family Fun Walk begins with registration from 7:30 to 8:30 a.

m. Saturday at the Children and Family Services Building. Breakfast will follow from 8:30 to 10:30 a.

m. For more information, visit @EasternShawneeTribe on Facebook or https://www.estoo-nsn.

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