Powwow in the Northwest

Saturday was a particularly cloudless summer late July day. We arrived early at what's normally a dog raising track in Post Falls, ID. The venue itself was the perfect canvas in it's plainness to showcase  the intensity of color waiting to be displayed via outfits, horses and music. 

I liked hearing the hand drum groups doing their first round after navigating a bizarre maze of little shops, from the inside entrance to the outside stadium. Some selling handmade moccasins, other tye-dye hippie girl dresses, the kind you see everywhere. Waiting for the action to start we made our way up the bleachers, still with hand drum groups performing. By action I mean the horse parade contest and grand entry. The 40 minute anticipation was well worth the wait, and filled with wandering eyes over crowds. Observing fellow observers and listing to the cling cling cling of sometimes sparkly traditional dress making their way through the crowds, to some starting and viewing point I imagine.

I didn't know what to expect. I've heard the word powwow for sure but didn't know it meant, in basic terms, the gathering of Native American people. From what I understand the main event at the Julyamsh Powwow was the dancing, I've never witnessed anything like it.  There was generosity  about the few hours I had to observe the powwow. I felt a sincere thankfulness and a desire to learn more. I'm somewhat of a history nerd and the idea of this free time study thrills me more than is cool to admit.