July 22-24, 2005
[email protected]
www.midnightsunpowwow.org
907-456-2245
The Midnight Sun Intertribal Powwow returns July 22-24 in Fairbanks, Alaska.
The Midnight Sun Intertribal Powwow is a traditional powwow meant to enrich the lives of all Native people, educate the general public, honor elders and share our similarities and diversities. It was begun in 2000 by a small group of dedicated folks who saw the need for an intertribal get-together. Besides the native Athabascan, Eskimo and other indigenous peoples in Alaska, there is a population of a wide variety of transplants from other tribes, from both the US and Canada. An intertribal powwow was needed to keep all traditions alive and recharge everyone’s spirits. Chief Peter John of Minto gave his blessing to the group and the Midnight Sun Intertribal Pow Wow was born.
A bald eagle will be released Sunday, July 24 around 3:00pm (exact time not yet set), with prayers and honor songs. The Bird Treatment and Learning Center in Anchorage is bringing the rehabilitated bird up for the occasion. Please join us for this special event.
This year the powwow moves to spacious and green new grounds and conjoins WEIO (World Eskimo-Indian Olympics). On Kiwanis Field, behind the Big Dipper ice rink on 19th and Lathrop you’ll find the big tent full of dancers and drummers surrounded by food and crafts booths. Lodges will be found at the back of the field.
The Guest Drum this year is the Steiger Butte Singers from Chiloquin, Oregon, a family group from the Klamath area now in its second generation of singers and drummers.
Also attending will be the Mt. Susitna Singers from Anchorage, and the Eagle River Singers from the same area.
George J. Bennett Sr. will be our Master of Ceremony for the Powwow this year. A former resident of Fairbanks, he has a long history of participation in our community. We are very pleased to have him.
Leading up to the powwow a fiddle dance is planned as a kickoff event. Alaska band Arctic Thunders will play and sing rock music in Native languages, as well as local fiddlers and bands from around the Fairbanks area. The dance is tentatively scheduled for July 16 at the Tribal Hall. Email Jean McDermott at [email protected] if you would like to help man the ticket table or bake sale booth, or put up posters.
Volunteers are always needed to make any community event work, and the powwow is no exception. Opportunities to help include phone calling, postering, ticket taking, manning the information booth, security, first aid and more. If you want to have some fun and meet great folks, please call Valerie at 452-5155.
