Top left: A dancing Anelicia Poyirier was named 2018 Junior Princess. Following her in the circle is Junior Brave Davin Sherer. Above: Tiny Tot Princess Nevaeh Deschampe gets all the care a new princess deserves as she is attended to by a covey of attendants. Left: Tiny Tot Brave A.J. Poyirier gets fitted with his sash. Far left: Senior Brave Jordan Porter examines the rose he received while Senior Princess Rhonnie Poyirier looks on. Staff photos/Brian Larsen
The four-day Grand Portage Rendezvous Days Celebration Pow Wow was held under sunny, warm skies as fans, friends, and family members joined to make the 2018 festivities one to long remember.
On Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Grand Entry U.S. flags were raised to honor six military veterans from Grand Portage. As the veteran staff bearers came out into the circle, the name of the soldiers, military rank, and time of service was read to the crowd, which stood for the ceremony. Six staff bearers in all held flags for veterans, many of whom had passed on.
Lead dancers, who were dressed in traditional regalia, came after the opening ceremony.
With the Stone Bridge Singers hosting, 19 drums came from Ontario and throughout Minnesota to play and sing for the dancers and patrons who filled the stadium.
All told 382 dancers participated in the festivities and ceremonial dances that were held each day.
At 3:30 p.m. the princess and brave contests took place and three new princesses and three new braves were picked dancing for the judges. This is always a crowd favorite, and the kids couldn’t have been cuter.
The Tiny Tot brave for the next year is A.J. Poyirier, and Nevaeh Deschampe is the Tiny Tot Princess. The junior brave winner was Davin Sherer, and Anelicia Poyirier was selected as the Junior Princess. Senior brave winner was Jordan Porter with Rhonnie Poyirier picked as Senior Princess.
For the people who didn’t watch or participate in the dancing, there was plenty to do. Some participated in bingo, the turkey shoot, the mixed softball tournament, the hand drum contest, the run/walk races, the horseshoe contest, the raffle drawings, or just strolled through the grounds and checked out the fantastic vendors’ tents. The most popular vendor tents, of course, were the food tents that sold fry bread and other tasty delicacies.
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