Community elders, family and friends of all ages enjoyed a circle or round dance at the 20th Annual Honor Our Elders Powwow on Saturday, May 12. Participation in this dance is an acknowledgement of the honor of receiving a gift.
The sound of drums and the scent of sacred tobacco were in the air on Saturday, May 12, as community members gathered for the 20th Annual Honor Our Elders Powwow at the Grand Portage Community Center.
At the start of the powwow, Grand Portage Royalty, Tiny Tot Brave John Pierre, Tiny Tot Princess Kassia Deschampe, Junior Brave Patrick Pierre, Junior Princess Shaelynn Novitsky, Senior Brave Cody Tesser, and Senior Princess Shianna Lien, led all the dancers in the dignified grand entry. The Grand Portage youth drum group, the Stonebridge Singers, was the host drum. There were 18 drums at the pow wow.
There were over 350 dancers and guests on hand to celebrate community elders. Elders were presented with a gift and family and friends of all ages joined a circle or round dance. Participation in this dance is an acknowledgement of the honor of receiving a gift.
In addition to drumming and dancing—and jokes by emcee Murphy Thomas—there was a delicious dinner. Royalty helped serve a supper to the elders. Dancers and powwow guests enjoyed a feast of chicken, wild rice, corn and fruit.
Dana Logan (left) from the powwow committee and Junior Princess Shaelynn Novitsky, one of six powwow royalty, enjoy a dilly bar, generously donated by the new owners of the Grand Marais Dairy Queen.
An extra treat this year was a donation from the new owners of the Grand Marais Dairy Queen, Rob and Tammy Hackett, who donated 400 dilly bars. The dilly bars were enjoyed by all on the warm spring day.
The Elders Powwow is a special event to recognize all that the elders do for the community—from making strawberry shortcake and fish nuggets for the Rendezvous Days Powwow and beautiful crafts for the Christmas bazaar to teaching traditional ways, the elders are appreciated.
Patty Winchell-Dahl, director of the Grand Portage Elder Nutrition Program, spoke for many ENP participants when she said, “We enjoy this event and appreciate this time spent with family and friends. Miigwech to the Grand Portage Tribal Council and community for hosting this event.”
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