A Sharing of Cultures
North Platte Traveler Pow Wow
Omanisa Wacipi
by Alice Mora

A Sharing of Cultures. That is how the first ever North Platte Traveler Pow Wow was billed. And nowhere was that more apparent than in the smiles and handshakes of participants and guests during the three-day event last October.

More than 170 dancers from 32 tribes, from all across America and from as far away as Canada, were represented in the Grand Entry. Fancy feather dancers, jingle dress dancers, grass dancers, fancy shawl dancers and traditional dancers all participated in the colorful parade.

Participants varied in age from tiny tots ages 6 and under to our respected Golden Age dancers, who were 50 and over. All were accompanied by the drumgroups and singers, representing both Northern and Southern styles - Crazy Horse, Eagle Mountain, Maza Kute, Meskwaki Nation, Southern Outlaws, and OmaHa Standing Eagle, among others. Exotic sounding names outmatched only by their soul-stirring performances.

As the Grand Entry made its way across the gym, my eyes filled as I watched an older Native American woman go by; delicate in her age, magnificent in her beauty and grace, her dance simple and elegant. I can only guess at the stories behind the lines on her face.

We all have an “image” of what a Native American is. An image that has been shaped by the subtle nuances of society and sculpted by popular media. The North Platte Traveler Pow Wow was created to educate and inform, to bring a greater understanding of a culture that has too long been devalued, not only by the non-native community, but by the Native community as well.

At this exact moment, the North Platte Traveler Pow Wow Committee, Mike Swanton, Charlene Flood, Frank Jamerson, Martin Mora, Chuck Salestrom and myself are hard at work organizing this year’s event. Raising funds, generating support and preparing behind the scenes everything necessary for a successful event.

Among other improvements, this year’s educational programs will be expanded. They will include talks on bead and feather works, popular Native American authors and artists, the meaning of the drum and workshops on songs and dances.

There is an inherent beauty in the Native American culture. The majesty of the drums and singers, voices raised in ancient harmony. The hours of painstaking work each dancer has put into their own intricate cloth, bone and beadwork regalia. We look forward to sharing this with you.

The North Platte Traveler Pow Wow Committee would like to personally invite you and your families to share this years second annual Omanisa Wacipi Pow Wow on October 22, 23 and 24 with us. It is truly a sharing of cultures.

Learn mora about the upcoming Pow Wow. Visit North Platte Pow Wow online