Ponemah Labor Day Powwow is a true celebration

By Michael Barrett

Freelance Writer

            The 31^st Annual Ponemah Labor Day Celebration and Traditional Powwow, held August 29-September 1, 2003, was another annual event that continues to get bigger and better each year.

            With close to 600 registered dancers throughout the celebration, and some of the best drum groups in all of North America, the Grand Entries were full of color, style and grace in movements, as well as heartwarming and full of life.

            The first night of the powwow, which many people consider a warm-up session, brought in 400 dancers and they went from 7 p.m. to about midnight.

            A multitude of events took place all weekend long, including the Earl Fairbanks Traditional Dance Special, the Margret Rosebear Jingle Dress Special, the Robert Thomas Memorial Men’s Traditional Contest, the Ron Long Jr. Grass Dance Memorial, the Lee Whitefeather Grass Dance Special, the Don Kingbird Singing Contest, the Johnson Kingbird Memorial Singing Contest, a parade, a five-mile run, an amazing fireworks display, softball tournaments, and feasts on both Saturday and Sunday, as well as the the Ponemah Princess Pageant.

            Some of the highlights included High Noon taking first place in the Johnson Kingbird Memorial Singing Contest and taking home $2500, while Okedocke was second winning $1500, and third place went to Smokey Town who received $1000.

            Smokey Town also won the Don Kingbird Singing Contest and received $1000 and a drum for that event.

            Then there was the crowing of the Ponemah Princess, which went to Danielle Cloud, daughter of Elliot Cloud and Patty Kingbird.

            It was also reported that over $40,000 was paid out to dancers and singers in the four-day celebration.

            Further information was not available at the time this article went to print...