~POW WOW~

If you have never been to a Native American Pow Wow, go..they

are one of THE most beautiful things you will ever see or experience.

The dancing, singing, drums, ceremonies,and THE most beautiful

costumes I have ever seen, and all worn so proudly. The Pow Wow

I went to was in Green Bay, Wisconsin, I had never been to one and

my 2 dearest friends always went as Ted was full blooded Oneida

and Nadine was full Cherokee. They were a pair let me tell ya..But

2 of the dearest friends a person could have.. I helped her with their

wedding made many of the dresses and accessories for it..Was a

HUGE wedding..
This Pow Wow I attended, was down in a valley sort of with hills
around where the people sat, some on the ground, or in lawn chairs.
There were tents along the outside edges that sold shirts and Native
American things, Dream Catchers, many many things..One of the
MAIN things there of course, guess? the FOOD..It was just wonderful.
They had a bread I forget the name..we bought so much food and ate it
while we watched all these amazing people march and dance around the
building where the elders and the music and drums were, where they
performed ceremonies.. Some times they asked you not take photos..
which we respected..I saw no one take any then.. I didn't.. As the Pow
Wow started you heard the drums..they got louder and louder.. then the
chants and singing started..down the side of this hill that led down into this
valley where we waited they all paraded and danced and marched and
started to go round and round that building.. It was the most colorful
display I have ever seen...the singing was wonderful.. I loved it.. every
body felt the rythym and the beat of the loud drums. the chants. wonderful.
All of the dresses and mens costumes are all hand made, the

blue dress on the right there, look closely, you will see silver

bells sewn onto the dress all over it.. as she parades around

as she stomps one foot after the other and sort of turns left

and right that dress rings..the silver bells sound so wonderful..

They shine brightly in the sun..and the girls that wear them

proudly dance and show how beautiful they look and sound...

I didn't get a photo of the shawl dancers.. these beautiful women

have these delicately embroidered long shawls with LONG

fringe on the 3 sides.. as the woman dances she holds on to the

corners ..holds her arms out and waves and moves her arms

as if to look like she is flying as the shawl flows in the wind..They

all dance to the sound of the drums and flutes..
If you look closely you will see a litle girl I think there in

the red.. very young children only 2 or 3, just barely walking

would follow their dad or mom around and dance and laugh

and have a wonderous time..When someone watching in

the audience would yell and clap for these children they

would beam at them and wave and dance even harder . It

was a great time.. The weather was just perfect as you can see

not even a cloud in the sky ,, wasn't real hot which was so

good those costumes were heavy ... the feathers and fur skins..

A man standing next to me had a wonderful costume on and

he had a fox head hat on..a vest of fur.. he held a long tall walking

stick and on the very end of it woven and held in place by leather

strappings. was a deer rack...not real big..and in the center of it

were bells.. I asked him what the horns were from..

As the music changed all of a sudden he lets out this LOUD

yell..and stomps his walking stick onto the ground and proceeds

to step high with one foot then the other ..turns in circles as he

dances his way singing into the group starting to dance around

the circle again.. Anyone could dance,,they encouraged everyone

to take one dance around the building with them.. Many many did..

I preferred to watch..it was such an amazing day...

This Pow Wow Lasted all day into the evening and sunset..we had

to leave as Nadine had to go to work at the casino there, Its right

across from the Green Bay Airport..The Oneida Casino..it is just

great! She was a black jack dealer there.. She and Ted owned a

limo service.. they had 2 of them.. a long stretch white one and of

course a black one.. She had just gotten the new white one.. I lived

in a huge apartment complex.. when she phoned she said "Im coming

over to get you and take you for a ride in the new limo, so I was ready

to go! Well as we leave my apartment.. she says "Lois, theyre watching,

to see who this car is here for..I saw lots looking..so lets do this right..

Now.. I was NOT dressed to the 9's then.. I didn't look bad, I never do,

:-) anyway, I was scruffy lets say, so....

Nadine goes out the door first..holds it open for me..and I walk out..I

slowly walk up to the car as Nadine reaches around ..and opens the

door she reaches out and takes my hand and helps me into the car.

She had on a chauffeurs cap now..she was just home from the casino

and she was dressed nice..black pants a crisp white blouse and a

pretty black vest..well , I get in..she goes around ..the windows are

tinted so no one can see into the car.. We pull out and I bet in EVERY

window there was a face ..with the look "WOW I WONDER WHO
THAT IS???" on their face..We laughed.. She drove around for a

while and we stopped and got a soda..and sat in the car at McDonalds

in a white stretch Limousine that was cute.don't you know everyone in

there was wondering.. She drove me home..before she stopped she

reminded me not to open the door to wait for her..we wanted to give

those nosey neighbors a show..She gets out of the car..shes tall now

too..and puts on that hat, walks around that car and opens the door

reaches in, takes my hand and helps me out.. opens the door to the

building and we go inside.. When we got in there we peeked out the

curtains..and was the same thing..every window had a face in it..THAT

was fun..we had the best time doing that.. Was the one and only time

I ever rode in a Limo..huge car...

Well time for me to ride to bed.. I got up at I thought 530..well my clock

was off and it was 430.. so I am kinda tired..Penny was here today

and we are all squeaky , Donnie comes tomorrow to empty out the

garage of his styrofoam..be nice to see him.. Penny changed the

comforter and pillowcases on my bed and I KNOW how good that

is going to feel.. Im tired.. Hope you enjoyed the Pow Wow..

"Nitey Nite"

Y'all have a good one now Y'hear? Love ya and Thanks!!!!!!!! :-)

Always, Lois ****

God Bless you, is my prayer today,

I'm so honored to call you "friend";

I pray the Lord will keep you safe,

Until I write again.....