I like to think I'm decently culturally aware. I bristle at racist jokes, work closely with LGBT issues and, umm, enjoy sushi. That being said, insomuch as I've worked to avoid being ignorant of other cultures, there are gaps in my understanding. I was keenly aware of that as Justin and I contemplated going to the Riverbank Pow Wow in Lansing. Had I been asked what a Pow Wow was before we went, my response would've been, essentially, "I don't know, but it has something to do with Native American culture".
Pictured: My expectations being met.
We arrived a few hours ahead of a bad storm in time to see some vendors opening up for the night and others battening down the hatches. Because we were there on the first night, it was mostly about shopping and setting up for the main event that would be the next day. Each booth had different wares with different stories. That was the part I'd expected though. As lovely as all of the crafts, pipes, dreamcatchers and drums were to look at; they weren't surprising or new.
I began to wonder what, if anything, really happened at a Pow Wow. On our second pass around looking at the delightful wares that were for sale, we struck up a conversation with one of the merchants. She explained that the Pow Wow in Lansing is actually a three day long dance competition. On the first night, there was supposed to be an explanation of the dances, what they mean and why the various tribes do them. On Saturday there would be a grand procession into the center of the fairgrounds and on the last day there would be a ceremonial recession of the dancers and awards given to the best ones.
How cool is that? Significantly more cool if I'd gotten to see it. As much as Justin and I greatly enjoyed learning what a Pow Wow was and why people do it, we didn't get to see much in the way of dancing. With the storm rolling in, people were shutting things down for safety a bit sooner than, I imagine, they otherwise would've. That being said, there was one thing that was, unquestionably, the coolest freaking thing ever.
Seriously.
Coolest.
Thing.
Ever.
I'm somewhat sad that I didn't get to experience more of what makes a Pow Wow, a Pow Wow; but it does give me an excuse to go to another one at some point in the near future. There is an Ann Arbor Pow Wow every year and there are events around the country with a similar background, so I'm sure I'll get a chance eventually. In the meantime, I'm happy we got out of there when we did cause driving through that storm was utterly petrifying.
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