When I was pretty young I remember a couple pow wows that used to take place in the Dunseith area. The old Standingchief Round Hall Pow wow located north of Dunseith..and on Standingchief land and there was one located just east of Dunseith by the Rugby exit/crossing. I was really young when the Standingchief pow-wow took place. There were benches in rows and 2 high that people sat on. I sat in a window one time with one of my other siblings. We sat there because of all the dancing going on. Dust was everywhere from dancers who kicked dust as they performed. People brought food, drummers sang non-stop and dancers danced all they could. The occasion would be special as Sam Standingchief Sr. was on Chief Little Shells Grand Council at one time. Sam himself was a good dancer and was a very traditional man...and a relative. The other location a pow-wow took place was near the Rugby crossing..as they call it. On the southeast side of the intersection. A big tent was risen for a pow-wow. At the time my family lived in the East Housing tribal complex nearby..and we went there a couple years...pretty sure it was 2 years in a row, This pow-wow happened on the 1st. of the month. Another great pow-wow to attend. I remember a lot of young kids dancing at this one. They were learning as the experienced dancers danced and performed. Back then there were not to many giveaways etc. More dancing that I can remember. The dancing attracted a lot of people and out-of-towners..and a few tourist. Another location I would like to add, is on Cree land located right across from the Dunseith Golf Course. There has been a round hall - log house put there a couple of times for the purpose of ceremonies etc. Anyway, right near the approach to the land, there is a spot where my grandparents Rose and Francis Cree held small pow-wows on Sundays. The pow-wow was small but attracted a good crowd of people. We used to put up a shade made out of poplar trees for the elders. People brought food, soups were made, and Indian bread was fried or made in a dry iron skillet. Everyone had a good time. This same land was the location for past sun dances, sweats and other traditional events. Today, the community has the Chief Little Shell pow-wow. I remember when the Little Shell arbor was developed. At that time I was becoming a teen. Around the same time my grandfather danced traditional at the pow-wow. Its been well over 25 years now the Little Shell pow-wow has been taking place..here in the Dunseith area. This coming month August 8th, 9th and 10th, the community here will sponsor another pow-wow. Pow-wows have been around a long time here in the Turtle Mountain area. Theres others that have taken place..such as the one (that) used to take place where Chippewa Downs Race Track is located, another near the Fiddlers Hall and a couple of them takes place at the Tribes Community College during the year. Pow-wows are part of the Turtle Mountains history and continues today.
Posted on: Wed, 09 Jul 2014 05:06:05 +0000
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