Tuesday, February 4, 2020

OLD POST FROM SEPTEMBER 2002 - POW WOW ON THE MALL

As I have mentioned before, I enjoy going through our old photos, and found these on the blog I closed a few years ago.  For some reason, and I still have no idea why, people were having trouble downloading that old blog, so I made the decision to close it and start fresh with this one.  I also had to buy a new laptop and the time just seemed to be right to start fresh.  
I actually started blogging in April of 2008, and started this one right at the end of 2015.  I might repeat posts that I did on the old blog, every now and again.  I have already shared photos from those archives.
Going back to September 2002, we found out about the Pow Wow.  It was to celebrate the building of The National Museum of the American Indian, and was taking place nearby on the Mall.
It was an exciting event and as I have been interested in learning all about different cultures since I was a little girl, I could not wait to go into the city over the weekend. We don't live that far away from our Nation's Capital as the crow flies.
I took these photos from my seat. (I don't normally show children's faces on here, but as this was taken 12 years ago, I figured their features are totally different now all these years later).  It was very hot that day and several people left the tent before it started. There was no way that I was going to miss such a wonderful event, and I watched as the big tent filled with people who were going to participate in the Pow Wow. I spotted this darling little girl and her brother. She was doing a superb job of looking after him, and later on I saw her getting ready for her part in the Pow Wow.
There were whole families involved and the traditional clothing was quite spectacular.






This revered gentleman with his grandson was being honored for service to his country as a Navaho Code Talker during WWII.

Here a grandfather and grandson were waiting to perform in their tribe's drum circle. 
And I can't tell you enough how much I appreciated this experience.  And so I watched and waited and took photographs of people getting ready. 






I count at least three camera's in this shot.  There was a young lady taking a movie of the audience. 
And so it began.









 







The traditional clothing was intricate, colorful, incredible, beautiful, unique.  
Wallace Coffey of the Comanche, with actor and folk singer Floyd Red Crow Westerman, from the Lakota Sioux (sadly, since I wrote this post, he passed on in December 2007). As well as being seen in various roles on the big screen and TV, Mr. Westerman is also a fierce advocate of Native American rights and is a leader in the North American Indian Movement. I am very familiar with this exceptionally talented actor, as I grew up watching movies he took part in on our British TV, and have to say it was a thrill to see him within camera range.

Wallace Coffey has served as Masters of Ceremonies for Pow Wows and Indian cultural events for well over 35 years. 
What an incredible day and one that I wouldn't have missed for the world.

A great memory now and I hope you have enjoyed the revisit.  Enjoy your day and thank you for looking.





35 comments:

  1. You got truly incredible pictures of this amazing event! So many are so good that I cannot choose a favorite! I will enjoy seeing posts from your old blog, as I don't think I knew you back then.

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    1. Thank you Ginny, with such a marvelous event, the photos made themselves :)

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  2. It looks like an incredible event. Thanks for resharing the wonder.

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    1. You are very welcome EC, so happy you enjoyed :)

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  3. WOW! A wonderful way to spend a day. Fabulous colours in all their clothes Denese

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    1. Thank you Margaret, I am happy you enjoyed my photos. It was a very special day :)

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  4. I am pleased you didn't get rid of these photos, none of which I remember from your last showing. Hasn't time flown?

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    1. So glad you don't remember seeing it before Valerie. And yes the time certainly has flown :)

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  5. Hello, wonderful collection of photos from the POW WOW. It is a shame the Native American are having to fight now for their rights, like the right to vote. Enjoy your day, wishing you a happy week ahead!

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    1. Hello Eileen, I agree totally. Happy day and week to you also :)

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  6. I would love to have seen this and hear it. I do love drums, all drums, any drums. I like seeing the beaded clothing the women wore. I had forgotten about your moving your blog.

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    1. Hi Sandra, the drums can be very mesmerizing, and the flow of the people going in circles. It was truly amazing.

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  7. Pow Wows are very colorful and each dance has a meaning. There's much for us to learn and understand at a Pow Wow.

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  8. Hi Laurie, that's great. I believe this was extra special as people came from all over the country in honor of our new American Indian Museum to be built in Washington DC.

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  9. Hi Denise,
    What a wonderful colorful post of the Pow Wow. you must have had a superb time watching and taking your images . traditions like this must be preserved for future generations,but I'm sure the Native Indians will keep it going.
    All the best,
    John

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    1. Hi John, I agree totally, it is so important. Thank you and all the best to you too :)

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  10. It's good that you brought this up as I don't recall seeing it before.

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  11. Thanks for sharing these photos, Denise. The pow wow was quite a colorful event and I am sure you also agreed then and now.

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    1. You are very welcome Dorothy! Yes I do and a very happy event also. The atmosphere inside that tent was one of pure happiness, from the audience to the people participating.

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  12. Thanks for sharing your wonderful photographs at this fabulous event.

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    1. You are very welcome Buttercup, so glad you enjoyed my post :)

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  13. These are really great shots. I would have loved to have been there.

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    1. Thank you GGGrandma, I hope you can experience such an event one day.

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  14. Wow glad you revisited this! It looks like an amazing event!

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  15. Lovely post. You started blogging 2 years before me. Keep well Diane

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    1. Thank you Diane, you too. We have been doing this for a long time haven't we? :)

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  16. What a super post … it was so nice seeing all of these photographs of a wonderful event.

    All the best Jan

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    1. Thank you Jan, I'm happy you enjoyed. All the best to you too :)

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  17. Nice! So much color! I've been to a couple pow-wows around here.

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    1. Thanks Linda, I need to get a list of them to see where I can go again sometime :) This one was many years back.

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  18. Wonderful shots of this event. It looks like it was well attended.

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