Totally Texas -- A weekend of dueling powwows

I’m listening to Beyond Bows and Arrows on the radio (KNON 89.3 FM, 6-8 p.m. Sunday) while writing, and the drums renew my strength after a day of dealing with the aftermath of computer hackers. I expected to write only about the Morning Star Parents benefit powwow at Gainesville High School this Saturday, March 3. But the BB&A deejays announced “dueling powwows” for the weekend at Gainesville and the University of Texas at Arlington campus.

First the Gainesville powwow, since that’s where the Dallas Indian United Methodist Church will work the concession stand.

Hey, I’m not just pushing Gainesville because I’m a Methodist. It’s also where the Pahcheka Comanche family makes the fry bread. (See the May 11, 2011 blog, “Quanah Parker’s descendent drops in.” ) Don’t let them hear you compare fry bread to sopapillas, although they serve honey with this stick-to-your-ribs specialty for kids and those with a sweet tooth. Indian tacos and other snacks as well. And say hello to Sandra Blackbear Ramirez, who’ll probably be at the cash register, from the Comanche’s “sister tribe,” the Kiowas.

Besides, Gainesville is conveniently on the way to the Choctaw Casino in Durant, Oklahoma, so you can stop by on your way to the casino or back. See Google or other mapping software for directions to the high school at 2201 S. I-35. The crew at BB&A discussed the difficulties of getting to the high school north on I-35 from Dallas while I wrote. Don’t lose heart at the U-turn and long drive on the frontage road. The last time I was there, I wasn’t the only one who thought we were driving halfway back to Dallas before finding the high school.

Parking and admission to the dancing are free, but bring money for food, crafts, and jewelry. The Gainesville contest powwow benefits scholarships for Native American students. Gourd dancing opens at noon with gourd dancing, with the grand entry at 2
p.m. Dancing continues until the 10 p.m. announcement of winners. The drum group is from Texas’ only reservation tribe, the Alabama Coshattas in Livingston. See www.gainesvilleregister.com for more detailed schedule and list of staff members.

“Like” the Dallas Indian United Methodist Church’s Facebook page, as well, to stay current on local Native American cultural activities.

Also on Saturday, the Native American Student Association at UTA holds its 17^th annual benefit powwow from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. in the Bluebonnet Ballroom of the University Center, 300 W. First Street, Arlington. This powwow also benefits Native American scholarships.

Gourd dancing is from 10 a.m. - noon, “just for fun” dancing from 1 -5 p.m., with grand entry and contest dances at 6 p.m. Albert Old Crow, from Beyond Bows and Arrows, emcees. See “utanativeamericanstudents” on Facebook, and http://www.uta.edu/studentorgs/nasa_aises/ for details.

(The last time I was at the Gainesville powwow, I was too busy working the concession stand to take pictures, so this post’s photo is from last fall’s Traders Village powwow in Grand Prairie.)