This pow wow was turning out to be a carnival anyway
Begay boys practicing for group dance competition
First time I danced the competition.
Iroquois sister
This pow wow was turning out to be a carnival anyway
Begay boys practicing for group dance competition
First time I danced the competition.
Iroquois sister
Naes College
For almost 10 years, Naes College was holding the Pow Wow across the street from it at Peterson Park in Chicago. It was always been a contest pow wow and many dancers came. All the rv's used to park along the alley between a High School and Peterson Park. One day, the superintendent of a High School knocked at one of the traders' rv door and shouted out: "I want you damn Indians to get the hell out of here!"
Right now, Naes College might be gone and Leonard Malatarre is not affiliated with Naes College anymore. There won't be any pow wow at Peterson Park. The superintendent of that High School must be extremely happy. Too bad this venue is very close to home.
POW WOWS GONE BY
Stone House Park, 3719 Suydam Road, Earlville, IL - This is the setting of the last pow wow. The City of Lyons didn't welcome the pow wow anymore.
Thomas in front of our booth
We provided PA system at the pow wow. Pow wow security pow wow signs we made swimming in the retaining pond
This pow wow used to be held at Cermak Woods, Lyons, Illinois. It started sometime in 1995 on Mother's Day. There was a year that the pow wow didn't happen because somebody else reserved the area for his birthday party on Mother's Day. There were years when the weather was too hot and there was a time on Mother's day that everyone had to face the fury of a real bad weather. There was a tornado. I felt like I liked to cry on Mothers' Day.
Mothers' Day, 2003 - Thomas and I started back early to Cermak Woods. On the way, there were downed trees and still the tail of the tornado was being felt. When we reached Cermak Woods, a huge tree was down and our tent moved 4 feet from where it was. The tent was still up, a tent we bought from Menards. We were happy that the day before, we placed all our buckskin regalias and display cases inside the cargo trailer. What was left were just few pieces of merchandise. In front of our tent stood many people: many hats and his family and friends and the Iroquois Sisters and their family and friends. They helped us load the rest of our belongings and fold the tent. It took 8 people to fold one tarp. The wind was so powerful. Our cargo trailer was stuck in 2 feet of mud. It had to be pulled out and towed.
After saying thanks to everybody, we went home all muddy and tired.