Community invited to celebrate

By Clare Jensen and Matt Nagle

Tacoma Weekly
Published on: August 28, 2008

The Puyallup Tribe is preparing for a big three-day celebration Aug. 29-31, when it will hold the 29th Annual Puyallup Tribal Pow Wow at Chief Leschi School. More than just a tradition, this is a very special pow wow in that it is held to give honor to the tribe’s achievements in reclaiming land taken away from them years ago. It’s a time to look back, a time to look forward and a time to give thanks for today and all the tribe has accomplished through the blood, sweat and tears of generations.

The public is invited to attend, and organizers hope that many will turn out to join the tribe in making this pow wow memorable.

Jim Young has been committee chairman for the pow wow for more than 20 years. “We’re celebrating the fact that we got the land back where the [Emerald Queen] casino is, where the [Cushman] hospital was years ago…where we should have never lost it in the first place,” he said. He noted that while many pow wows are funded by casinos, this one is funded by the tribe itself with a budget approved by the Puyallup Tribal Council.

Native Americans from all over the Northwest at-tend this annual event, representing different tribes from coast to coast. Many live in Washington, while others travel from as far away as Alberta, Canada, and Washington, D.C. Mac Silverhorn, a Kiowa Comanche from Anadarko, Okla., will be emcee. Host Drum, the primary drum group that will be providing music for the dancers, will be representing Black Lodge in White Swan, Wash. Head man dancer will be Rainbow Azure and head woman dancer will be Bridget Eaglespeaker, both from Washington.

The days will be packed full with music, dancing, arts and crafts vendors selling and making art, food vendors with all kinds of delicious Native foods for sale, and lots of community fellowship. A grand entry, featuring tribal veterans presenting the colors in a flag ceremony, will be held each day: 7 p.m. Aug. 29; and at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. Aug. 30 and 31.

A traditional salmon bake, always a favorite, will be happening 5-7 p.m. Aug. 30 with Eddie Butler preparing the main course. “He’s been cooking for I don’t know how long,” Young said, noting that Butler’s grandfather taught him how to cook over an open fire “years and years ago. The only salmon he’ll cook is fresh salmon,” according to Young.

Dance and drum competitions with cash prizes, junior and senior princess and warrior contests, along with more relaxed dance and performance sessions, will take place throughout the weekend.

Chief Leschi School is located at 5625 52nd St. E. in Puyallup.

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