A hometown newspaper with a local office, local owners & lots of local news
A hometown newspaper with a local office, local owners & lots of local news
George Green of Minneapolis dances in his men's grass regalia Sunday. Green likes to come back to the Fond du Lac Veterans Powwow to reconnect, and celebrate his sobriety after going to Mash-ka-wisen for treatment.
Veterans display eagle staffs and flags for each branch of the military during the annual Veterans Powwow, held on the Mash-ka-wisen grounds Friday through Sunday.
Ryan Lemon Sr. of the Red Lake Band competed in the men's grass style dance last weekend at the Veterans Powwow. He was having a lot of fun, he said, on his first visit to a Fond du Lac powwow in a while.
Fifteen-year-old Sadie Bockanaga dances in her fancy shawl regalia during Sunday's grand entry. Her traditional name is Thunderbird Woman. "She's got a powerful spirit," said her auntie Sheila Peterson.
Native Americans serve in the U.S. military at five times the national average, according to the United Service Organizations. Pride in that service was on display throughout the Fond du Lac Veterans Powwow last weekend, with military uniforms and camouflage interspersed with a dazzling display of traditional regalia worn by 476 dancers competing in the powwow.
Drummers pounded out the Veterans Song, while flags from every military branch, eagle staffs from various reservations, and families led the grand entry Sunday. Anyone with a relative who served was invited into the arena to honor their service. Later on, master of ceremonies Chi Ma'iigan read the names of 241 fallen soldiers, including Fond du Lac's own Skip Sandman, who led last year's prayer, and passed away in October.
Sometimes somber, the powwow is also a giant get-together, whether a person is dancing, eating, shopping or enjoying a free coffee in the veterans tent. The arena lies at the heart of the powwow grounds, surrounded by concentric circles of bleachers and seats, food stands, lots of shopping, with campers and parking taking up the rest of the grassy grounds.
George Green came from Minneapolis for the event, held on the Mash-ka-wisen powwow grounds. A member of the Ho-Chunk Winnebago tribe in Nebraska, he competed in the men's northern traditional dance.
"I went to Mash-ka-wisen for treatment. I come here to reconnect and celebrate my sobriety," he said, noting he's been alcohol-free for four years. "I come back to have a good time and pay respect. Mash-ka-wisen helped me get on track. This makes a round circle."
Dressed in pink and purple for the fancy shawl competition, Sadie Bockanaga, 15, said she's been dancing since she was little.
"I do it because all my relatives used to dance," she said.
Immediate family or through the ages?
"Everyone," she said.
