The Dominican Sisters of Peace have a Congregational Commitment to stand with the marginalized in our society. This commitment gave Lila Parrish and me a good reason to travel to the Kaw Nation Pow Wow to learn more about our nation's indigenous people.
After our three and a half hour drive, we first went to the powwow grounds at Allegawaho Park outside of town. Sr. Imelda had told us that programming did not start until 7:00 pm, and she was right - nothing was going on. So we walked along the trail that winds around the monument to the Unknown Kaw Warrior on the top of the hillside.
We did not approach the tomb out of respect. But walk was a splendid expanse of tallgrass prairie in early summer bloom: Black-eyed Susans, Purple Coneflowers, Purple spiky plants (there were no interpretive signs), Lead Plant, Butterfly Weed, other milkweeds, tiny pinks, and many others. They were in groups and made for a showy display on the various angles of the hilly expanse of prairie. It was breezy but comfortable, and the trail was well-maintained, with mowed grass and some occasional exposed sandstone outcrops.
We returned to town to peruse the Washunga Days events in Council Grove. After a late lunch, we enjoyed the Riverwalk along the Neosho River, which was rather full and flowing due to recent strong storms in the area. We returned to the park around 7:00 p.m. and were among the earliest ones there. Despite Pauline Sharp’s reminder to bring lawn chairs, we left the chairs staged on the porch at home. I had a piece of carpet and a feedbag in my car, and we made do with those.
We were definitely EARLY. Not having chairs, we staked our viewing claim on the south side of the Dance Arbor on a low stone wall. That way, we saw all the comings and goings of folks. We were on the lookout for anyone we might know. Jim Pepper Henry was there and as newly elected Council Chair, he was in regalia, busy with arrangements and organizing things. I stopped him briefly as he was on his way to “an emergency;” and he shook my hand and said he had to go. We did not see anyone else that we knew. In addition to the Kaw people there for the powwow, there was a smattering of local or Washunga Days non-Kaw visitors. The mood was friendly, tight-knit, and sometimes solemn and dignified. There were a handful of vendors of food, jewelry, and clothes. The taco stand always had a line.
Slowly, the crowd assembled, carload by carload. Dancers changed into their regalia. There were stunning feathered young men, elegant older men, women in lovely fringed and jingled dresses, young boys and school-age girls in “beginners’” regalia. Toddlers had feathers and sashes.
Mark, a Kaw elder, was passing out literature about Chief Washunga and helpful information about the women’s and men’s dances. He turned out to be the Vice-Chair and was gracious and funny, recognizing us as visitors. He and other Kaw elders made a point of nodding or tipping their hats to us grey-haired elders sitting conspicuously on the rock wall. People in their family groups staked out their places around the perimeter of the dance area—they all had lawn chairs and were ranged about four rows deep.
At about 7 pm, the announcer began to ask the dancers to register for their dances. Things began slightly early at 7:30 p.m. in an attempt to avoid expected rain.
The opening began with Jim leading the council members, then the flags and elders. There were appropriate songs for each group. Dances followed. There was a dance for visitors that Lila and I joined. We followed in the circle and made our blanket offering—cash—for the drummers/singers. After that, we decided to move to the west side near the entrance to the arbor for a better view. Bringing our mats, we sat on the ground with others.
At some point, one of the matriarchs of the Donaldson (I think I heard right) family came out and welcomed us to their seats, saying it was right to offer seats to elders. It was a courtesy on our part to comply, and we could see the dances much better. They offered us water as well.
Since we had a 3-hour drive back, we left around 9:30 pm. We took a last photo of the festivities from our parking spot on the ridge above the dance arbor. We wished to stay longer, but the weather report and the length of the drive made us go. The experience was one of being invited into a unique way of life that is very important to the people who work to maintain and restore the traditions.
The trip back along I-70 was uneventful until the first light rain around Salina. As we travelled west, thunder, lightning, heavy rain, and wind tossed us around despite staying behind a truck that had slowed to 45 mph.
We took our exit and continued on amid the storm's pummeling of the storm. I’ve never seen such a lightning display. I also wasn’t sure if my car was amphibious or not. There were times between lightning flashes that all I could see was the center line. Since it was so dark and disorienting, and there were few places to turn off or stop, we continue with hazard lights at 40 mph while some trucks passed us. At the end of K-156, nearing Great Bend, we saw a turned-over semi. Sheriff’s deputies were just arriving to direct us around it.
We made it home by 1:00 a.m.—feeling lucky to be safe.
Jane,
Thank you for sharing this informative experience. Sacred Dances are very meaningful. Your pictures of nature and the gathering were impressive. What a long trip home in the weather.