Saturday we took the entire family out to a fundraiser.
Sounds terribly boring right? Well this fundraiser was for an up coming PowWow that we've been invited to.
This was put on by several local tribes, mostly Cherokee.
You all know by now that I am Blackfoot, but since I live too far from the Blackfoot reservation to participate in my tribal celebrations I was thrilled to be invited to join some locals in theirs.
Traditional food. Similar to the Blackfoot diet of wild fruits, vegetables, roots, berries and such.
A Cherokee day camp used during migrations.
Elise and her daughter in Cherokee reservation trade cloth dresses.
A very nice Pawnee man that shared a bit about his tribe with me.
Emerson a very sweet Apache whom gave me a beautiful gift. (I'll show you later)
Mowhawk target practice.
He also showed their blow guns.
The food. Indian tacos. A yummy meal that became traditional to most tribes once living on reservations.
Flour was new to Indians and so it was put to use, mixed with water and salt and fried to golden. Fry bread is then cover with beans, meat and veggies and it is the yum!
Dancing! There is always lots of dancing when you get a bunch of Natives of any tribe together.
Sorry I didn't get many pictures of the dancing. I was busy dancing myself.
I just can't stand still once the drum starts beating and the singer lets out his first call.
My little Blonde, blue eyed Indians
Look at my little pale face girls in their ceremonial paint!
Well after hours of dancing, food and many new friends I am still worn out but very happy!
This is my gift from Emerson and his wife Kae.
It is traditional to give a gift to a new adopted family member. I am honored to be a member of the Yellow feather clan. The drawing is of a fire hawk, a symbol of wisdom and spirit and of a turtle, a symbol of strength. On the turtles back is a medicine wheel which represents our spiritual beliefs of unity. Each color represents a direction, element, season, stage of life and a race of people. All in fours and always conected.
It is a beautiful gift and a good offering!
Thank you so much for sharing. The story of the gift and it's meaning made me tear up. Your little Indians are so beautiful and dear. :*
ReplyDeleteWow, this must be the most interesting and enchanting post I've ever read.. I'm so glad you shared these photos and the stories with us, thank you!
ReplyDeleteAn absolutely wonderful post - it could be a fantastic feeling to be united again with all Your relatives, distant and close alike, and to be connected to Your roots. I loved this post and the pictures so much.
ReplyDeleteAndrea... do you think you can share the recipe for the fry bread?
ReplyDeleteIt seems like something which is very familiar which we have in Panama.
It looks delicious!
Thanks for all the pictures, and for giving us a little window into your world.
Thank you for sharing this, it looks really fun. I love the drawing, how special. :)
ReplyDeleteGreat post :) And your girls are adorable.
ReplyDeleteWOW! Love the painting...
ReplyDeleteHe is a very talented artist and doesn't he just look like a big ol' teddy bear! :)
ReplyDeleteThank You! Funny how my 3 youngest look nothing like me at all, the girls look like my Great GrandMother who was a beautiful Norwegian/Swedish lady.
ReplyDeleteWe had a great time!
ReplyDeleteI will post the reciepe and directions later today. I would not be surprised if you had a similar dish, it's yummy!
ReplyDeleteIt's been a long time since I've been surrounded by other Native Americans. It was almost like going home.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you enjoyed it, it was a great day!
ReplyDeleteDiane I think you would enjoy being amoung tribal people, the stories alone would set your imagination a fire!
ReplyDeleteAlright! This is the post I've really been waiting for. :) I have wanted to tell you you should write some more about your heritage- I am deadly curious! In Sweden we, for several reasons, don't get to learn very much about Native Americans in school, or elsewhere. So to me it's super exotic (in lack of better words to describe my curiousity), and I'd love to know more!
ReplyDeleteWe actually do have some "native Swedes" too- the Sapmi/Sami/Lapps. For reasons similar to the Native Americans', they have not been very much in the limelight, so to speak, but it's getting better here and there is continous work done to acknowledge their heritage and spreading the word to the "white people". :)
Oh, and by the way, are there any famous Blackfoots? My only Native American reference people are Chuck Billy and Mike Patton. LOL
Got way too curious and looked it up on wikipedia. Congrats to sharing origins w Blackie Lawless! \m/ xD
ReplyDeleteThat looks like such an amazing cultural experience, and your kidlings are so cute! XD
ReplyDeleteThat food looks DELICIOUS.
It's all so absolutely beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI would SOOOOO love to witness this is first hand!
oh, I forgot...your kids are SSOOOOO ADORABLE! Gracious, you are a lucky lady!
ReplyDeleteWow it looks like such a beautiful area and lots to do!
ReplyDeleteThe taco looks and sounds yummy, your kids look like they're really enjoying themselves, bless! I want to go haha :)
I would have loved this! Your pictures are beautiful, especially your babies. How fun that you got to do this. Hope the kiddos had a great time too!
ReplyDeleteMom you are a jerk, I never get to do anything fun, all I get to do is go bowling....I seem to work whenever there is something fun coming in to town and I don't find out about it until its too late for me to request off.... >:o
ReplyDeleteListen here miss pouty pants, Mom rarely get's to have fun so zipit!
ReplyDeleteYou got to go to Metelocolypse and other concerts. I haven't been to a concert in forever.
Now go get your degree so you can work set days and hours with paid vacations and all that! :-P
The kids loved it and Chris even had fun.
ReplyDeleteIt is a fun time!
ReplyDeleteYou should go to a PowWow, seriously it is so much fun!
ReplyDeleteThank You! The food was fab!
ReplyDeleteThere aren't many "Famous" Blackfeet, we tend to be of too few words.
ReplyDeleteBlackie Lawless is from the Blood clan so we are probably cousins somewhere along the line. lol
How nice!, your babies look so happy.
ReplyDeleteIt feels good to dance , I love to dance!
It's a joy to admire Indian traditions.
Cool post Evil Angel ;)
Thanks for sharing with us! It looks like you had a great time, your gift is gorgeous. The fry bread looks amazing, I'm glad I can finally see what it is that you're always telling me about! The girls look adorable as always!
ReplyDeletewow, this is very cool - thank you for sharing!!
ReplyDeleteThis looks so wonderful! Thank you so much for sharing this with us. Looks like you had an awesome time. We have nothing like this in the UK. I've been reading about the reservations in my Jamie Oliver cookery book and it's so interesting and inspiring, the recipes look amazing too!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this with us. Very,very cool!!!
ReplyDeletecool!!!!!!! very cool!!!! i
ReplyDeletehaha, it's me, Diane! forgot to put in my name!!!! i'm havin one of those days!!! lol
ReplyDeleteBlood clan... That sounds... Evil. \m/ :D
ReplyDeleteoh that looks like such an amazing day!
ReplyDeleteWow! I loved this post :) Your babies are beautiful,and it looks like you all had a wonderful time. I wish I knew more about my Cherokee ancestors.Without their stories a huge section of my family tree is still missing :'(
ReplyDeleteAww it looks, like so much fun! Your girls look so cute. Very interesting to learn about your culture :)
ReplyDeletewow, this is very cool - thank you for sharing!!
ReplyDeleteoh that looks like such an amazing day!
ReplyDeleteThere aren't many "Famous" Blackfeet, we tend to be of too few words.
ReplyDeleteBlackie Lawless is from the Blood clan so we are probably cousins somewhere along the line. lol
Alright! This is the post I've really been waiting for. :) I have wanted to tell you you should write some more about your heritage- I am deadly curious! In Sweden we, for several reasons, don't get to learn very much about Native Americans in school, or elsewhere. So to me it's super exotic (in lack of better words to describe my curiousity), and I'd love to know more!
ReplyDeleteWe actually do have some "native Swedes" too- the Sapmi/Sami/Lapps. For reasons similar to the Native Americans', they have not been very much in the limelight, so to speak, but it's getting better here and there is continous work done to acknowledge their heritage and spreading the word to the "white people". :)
Oh, and by the way, are there any famous Blackfoots? My only Native American reference people are Chuck Billy and Mike Patton. LOL
We had a great time!
ReplyDelete