Indian Summer Festival’s 21st Annual Winter Pow Wow is back better than ever the weekend of March 10-11 at Wisconsin State Fair Park, Wisconsin Products Pavilion, 640 S. 84th St. (gate 5). A traditional pow wow brings people together to dance, sing, socialize, and generally have a good time. There is ample opportunity for audience members to participate in many aspects of the pow wow itself, in addition to sampling authentic Native American foods and some of the best shopping around for Native American arts, crafts, jewelry and apparel.
A pow wow session begins with the Grand Entry, during which all the dancers line up by dance style and age, then enter the arena while a host drum sings a special song. The host drum is a drum group responsible for providing music for the dancers. During an intertribal dance, a drum will sing a song and anyone (American Indian and non-American Indian) can join the dance. Audience members can expect to see dancers representing the 11 Federally recognized tribes of Wisconsin, in addition to Veterans who also play a key role in the pow wow.
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NEW PERFORMANCES THIS YEAR INCLUDE:
Native Children’s Performance
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On Saturday at 11:00 am, a performance by students from Indian Community School will share songs they have written. The students will perform their music under the direction of Jamie Brace, front singer of October Soul. She is the winner of the 2010 Wisconsin Area Music Industry (WAMI) Female Vocalist of the Year award, and is a former Native American Music Awards (NAMMY) winner and also Indian Summer Music Awards (ISMA) winner.
Native Chick Singers
On Saturday at 5:00 pm, Indian Summer will host “Native Chick Singers” with live performances by Native female singers from across Wisconsin including: Jamie Brace, Kelly Jackson, Dakota Brace, Candice Nokes and Rhonda Head. Their collective performances will cover everything from rock, blues, top 40 to opera.
Aztec Dancers
On Sunday at 12:00 Noon, the popular dance troupe Ballet Folklorico will perform authentic Aztec songs and dances. Now celebrating their 40th year, the Aztec dance troupe returns to Indian Summer Winter Pow Wow with their exotic and colorful regalia to perform ceremonial songs and dances seldom seen in public.
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Emcee is Mark Denning, Arena Director is Dana Bzdawka and Host Drum is Wind Eagle. Four other drum groups from various Tribes of Wisconsin will also participate in the pow wow.
The pow wow features an extensive marketplace where vendors offer arts and crafts, traditional foods and herbs, jewelry, books and other items for purchase. Indian Summer Festival items also will be available. Food vendors will offer fry bread and Indian Tacos, as well as other family-friendly fare such as hot dogs and soft drinks. Groups such as UWM American Indian Student Services and the Pink Shawls Initiative for Breast Cancer Awareness also will be represented. A prayer ceremony will be held Sunday.
Pow wow hours are 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Grand entry times are at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday and 1 p.m. on Sunday. Those attending the Prayer Ceremony at 10 a.m. Sunday morning are admitted free. Admission for the general public is $7, for elders 60 and over is $5, and children 12 and under are free.