Winter Pow Wow

press release: 28^th Winter Pow Wow welcomes all March 9-10

Indian Summer Festival’s 27th Annual Winter Pow Wow brings excitement, color and pageantry to Milwaukee, March 9 and 10.The pow wow is held at Wisconsin State Fair Park, Wisconsin Products Pavilion, 640 S. 84th St. (gate 5). This traditional pow wow brings people together to dance, sing, socialize, shop, eat and have a great time.

Pow wow hours are 11 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 $10, for elders 60 and over is $8, and children 12 and under are free.

The pow wow opens with the pageantry of the “not to be missed” Grand Entry. All the dancers line up by dance styles and ages, then enter the arena led by an honor guard composed of military veterans, while a host drum sings a special song. Audience members can expect to see dancers representing tribes from across the country, including the 11 tribes of Wisconsin.

There are plenty of opportunities for audience members to participate in the pow wow. When an intertribal dance is announced by the pow wow emcee, the general public is invited to join in the dance.

Pow wow Emcee is Dylan Prescott, Arena Director is Ronnie Preston, Host Drum is Tomahawk Circle and Head Veteran is Brian Jackson. Also planned is a smoke dance “special.”  (A special is a contest sponsored by an individual or group at a pow wow.) The smoke dance special is sponsored by Southeastern Oneida Tribal Services, and all smoke dancers are invited to join in the special. There also will be a youth  special, sponsored by the Indian Community School.

The pow wow features an extensive marketplace where vendors offer arts and crafts, traditional foods and herbs, jewelry, books and other items for purchase. Food vendors will offer traditional foods as well as other family-friendly fare such as hot dogs and soft drinks. Indian Summer welcomes back traditional food vendors John Fowler and the Grieger family’s Whitefeather, represented by a second generation, Ron and Winona Grieger.

A non-denominational cultural prayer ceremony will be held Sunday at 10 a.m., and all are welcome to attend.

For updates, visit www.indiansummer.org.