Story and photos by Anne Morsette
North Dakota’s indigenous powwow season ended on a wonderful note this year with United Tribes Technical College’s 51st Annual Powwow. The weekend long celebration was held at the UTTC powwow arena in Bismarck, ND. The international powwow brought about many visitors from far and near for a weekend full of songs, dance, traditions, and celebrations. The weekend also featured other fun events for visitors to participate in such as a youth day to learn about the dances and culture; tournaments in golf, softball and basketball; and a thunderbird run. There was something for everyone, whether you were watching or participating in the festivities.
Lone Star Veterans Arena was the epicenter of the powwow and all its vendors for the weekend. It has been reported that there were over 450 registered dancers for the weekend along with 13 drum groups. Many of whom are local to the area, however there were many contest winners from all over the nation and our neighboring indigenous communities in Canada. Camping was open to visitors all weekend long, however the spots went quickly and many resorted to staying with friends or in Bismarck area’s hotels.
Flags were flown at half mass in memory of 9/11/2001
The weather was favorable all weekend long. The days were rather sunny, and the evenings cooled off so much that the powwow announcers Charlie Moran and Whitney Rencountre joked about the BEK camera guy needing a jacket because he was bouncing to the beat trying to stay warm. On both Friday and Saturday nights, the powwow went well into the late-night hours-early morning hours of one o’clock in the morning. The intertribals stayed jam packed all weekend long. A lot got done in throughout the weekend.
COVID-19 safety measures were observed as well. Complimentary hand sanitizer and face masks were provided throughout UTTC all weekend long. MHA Nation’s drug enforcement was also present throughout the weekend to provide support and serve as a deterrent to crime, which they’ve done for the past eight years at United Tribes. On Sunday, after grand entry, MHA Drug Enforcement was honored in the powwow arena for all their support and selfless duty that they do. Feeds were hosted by the Fox family, MHA Nation Chairman Mark Fox, and the Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux Tribe’s powwow committee feed.
It was a great weekend for all those who attended, or viewed on television, or listened in online. United Tribes serves as an end to the year’s powwow season. As fall and winter set in, everyone retires their regalia to safe keeping until spring time. Kids may outgrow this year’s regalia, or pass it down to younger siblings. Families may find other ways to fulfill their cultural needs throughout the winter. The powwow season resumed to somewhat normal conditions after COVID wreaked havoc across the world last year. KMHA and MHA Times looks forward to seeing everyone again on the powwow circuit next year.
Winners listed from MHA Nation are as follows:
Golden Age Men
4th Roy Morsette; Twin Buttes, ND
Junior Women’s Jingle
2nd Jonna Grace Brady; New Town ND
4th Shaundeen Smith; New Town ND
Junior Women’s Fancy
1st Jocy Little Sky; Sioux Falls, SD
3rd Eahtosh Bird; Sioux Falls, SD
Junior Boys Fancy
2nd Tokola Little Sky; White Shield, ND
3rd Leo Baker; Mandaree, ND
4th Ashini Abbey; Mandaree, ND
Junior Men’s Grass
Trae Little Sky; White Shield, ND
Senior Women’s Jingle
4th Jennifer Young Bear; New Town, ND
Senior Men’s Fancy
1st Jasten (Jazz) Bearstail; Bismarck, ND
Senior Men’s Grass
3rd Rusty Gillette; Mandan, ND
Junior Men’s Fancy
4th Rylan Baker; Mandaree, ND
Teen Boys Grass
2nd Thomas Bearstail; White Shield, ND
3rd George Gillette; Bismarck, ND
Junior Boys Grass
1st Wyatt Baker; Mandaree, ND
Junior Boys Traditional
2nd AJ Abbey; Mandaree, ND
Senior Men’s Traditional
4th Donovan Abbey; Mandaree, ND
Junior Girls Traditional
1st Atayce Little Sky; White Shield, ND
Junior Girls Jingle
1st Meah Little Sky; White Shield, ND
Teen Girls Traditional
2nd Tessa Charlene Abbey; Mandaree, ND
Teen Boys Fancy
2nd RJ Tveter; Maicopa, AZ
Junior Women’s Traditional
2nd Larissa N Braid; Denver, CO
Teen Girls Jingle
1st Sapphire Lablane; Bismarck, ND
2nd Sarai Tso; New Town, ND
A complete list of all the winners from all categories, signing contests, and sporting events can be found on Unite Tribes Technical College International Powwow Facebook.
