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Monroe County POW Wow

By Chuck Clegg - | Jul 12, 2022

Tribe Members

As is traditional the Monroe County Arts Council sponsored the annual Pow Wow held at the Hannibal Locks and Dam site. Each year since 2010, this group has come together to celebrate the heritage of all Native American tribes.

Jennifer Babb, co-chair of the events took time away from the festivities to talk about the event. She explained it began as a way to help remind people in the area of their cultures and traditions. The gathering is not one tribe, it is a collection of many different tribes. They come together to exchange cultures and information that keeps their memories alive.

All though this is a recent activity in the area, in the distant past different tribes came together to share much of the same information. To name a few of the tries in attendance, Cherokee, Dakota, Lakota, Apache, Navaho, Black Foot, Seneca and Menominee.

Drums and songs were provide by the members of Thunder Nation and Red Bird. These men set around single drums and beat a rhythm while chanting and singing about their culture, past battles and their faith in the Great Sprit. You have to experience it first hand to appreciate their music.

Visitors to the festivities had the opportunity to visit with vendors who offered traditional jewelry, woven items and a variety of items associated with Native Americans. They also could talk with those from the tribes.

The most anticipated event each day was the tribal dancing. To open the ceremony, representatives carry first the flag of our country, followed by the MIA-POW flag and then the different tribal flags. Dancers from the different cultures then follow the procession of flags. Heavy rhythmic sounds of drums and songs accompany dancers in traditional clothing danced to the music. The colors and sounds and bells give visitors a moment to understand the cultural beauty of our countries first people.

I spoke with Dawne Dushane of the Oklahoma tribes. She explained six hundred years ago, Native Americans made up the countryás population. Today they represent only about one percent. Event such as this, helps to preserve their culture for future generations.

This event is held each year on the first weekend in July. Place it on your 2023 calendar and next year experience a piece of our countryás native America history.