Larry Aitken Leech Lake Tribal Historian Nee-Bin is an Anishinabe word for summer. During this time of year, many visitors may have pleasure of witnessing a native powwow. Dances and ceremonies of indigenous native people convey a deep spiritual meaning. Songs are sung during specific seasons of the year, with special purpose and significant customs accompanying them.
Colorful outfits represent personal reflections and traditional meaning connected with the earth.
Some represent birds, others flowering grass. Still others honor animal beings, the bear, the fox, the deer. The dancers themselves interpret the meaning of their outfits. A recent addition to the powwow is the grand entry, used to begin the event. During this time, a single line of all the dancers enters the arena, dancing.