The pow wow drew Ojibwe from all over the Upper Midwest and was an impressive sight. The dazzling colors of the clothes; the driving, pulsing rhythm of the drums; and the hypnotic melodies of the songs were spellbinding. The pow wow grounds were along the lake itself and took place as a sunset painted the sky with vibrant blues, purples, pinks, and oranges. There were also vendors cooking traditional meals and selling crafts made by Ojibwe artisans.
If you ever find yourself in the summertime Mecca of the Minocqua area, be sure to visit Lac du Flambeau and experience the pow wow for yourself. Wisconsin's first people are a rich and vibrant part of the cultural fabric of our state.
Wow, the memories reading this post brought me back! I've gone to several pow wows, but they were all (inexplicably?) in giant warehouse/state fair barn-type places. The nature setting seems even more conducive to a transcendental experience.
ReplyDeleteI also got the chance to see a similar performance by the Da Lat ethnic group in the Central Highlands region of Viet Nam (Da Lat province, naturally). It was startling to be able to compare and contrast with the first people of Wisconsin.
Great post. Loved it.
*Two degrees of separation... at MOST! SO TRUE.