Second all-school powwow held in Polson
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Second Last minute challenges — rain and no master of ceremonies — couldn’t stop the Polson All-School Powwow on May 24.
The powwow moved indoors to the middle school gym. The custodial staff simply covered the floor with plastic, and Shandin Pete, Arlee, stepped up as emcee.
The second annual district powwow began with a Navajo prayer to the Creator offered by Arizona native Roy Pete in his native Navajo. Chief Cliff drum played and sang as the Veteran Warrior Society led the grand entry with the flags of the United States of America and the Flathead Nation and their own group.
According to Shandin, a flag song honors veterans, fallen warriors and those who have gone before.
For Bianca Torres, a third grade student at Linderman School whose family recently moved back to the area, dancing at a powwow was a new experience. Iris Caye, Torres’ great aunt, loaned her a crown and pair of moccasins Caye wore when she was 17.
The beaded buckskin knee-length moccasins and crown were made about 40 years ago, Caye said, by her grandmother, Madelyn Couture.
High school and middle school students unfamiliar with powwow dancing circled the floor during dances when everyone is encouraged to dance.
PHS English teacher and dancer Linda Pete challenged two students from each class to come to the dance floor, borrow a shawl from PHS senior Sierra Pete and fancy dance for bragging rights.
This helped students to relax and to participate, Polson district Indian education specialist Molly Billedeaux explained.
Linda believed Molly Beth Hendricks won the competition, but the students were having so much fun she wasn’t sure.
For building relationships with Indian families and for her work with Indian education, Cherry Valley principal Elaine Meeks was presented with a star quilt from the Indian Education Committee. About a month ago Meeks also received an award as Polson School District Employee of the Year from the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribal Education Department, Billedeaux noted.
The IEC also took on the herculean task of making frybread for every kid in the Polson district.
When the PHS Indian Club sponsored an honor dance and presented him with a Pendleton jacket, PHS vice principal Shawn Hendrickson also received a gift. Hendrickson will be leaving the district this year.
The Pete family feted Sierra with a special dance in her honor since she was chosen to be a Gates Millenium Scholar.
All the graduating seniors were recognized at the powwow, and Native American seniors received a blanket from the IEC.
Billedeaux, powwow committee chair, said kindergarten teachers, high school teachers, paraprofessionals and administrators participated in powwow planning.
Last year Polson teachers asked for more information about powwows to share with their students.
“This year I put together a presentation just with some background education — what is a powwow, the history of powwows, different styles of dancing and how they came to be,” Billedeaux said.
She added that school libraries would catalog the information.
Although the rain threw a wrench in their plans, the powwow went smoothly, Billedeaux said. Drum participation was great for a Tuesday afternoon. Drums Chief Cliff, Native Heart, Get Togethers and a drum from one of Salish Kootenai College’s drumming and singing classes showed up to play and sing.
