For the Kaimin Friday night, abandon the bar stool at your usual filling station and check out the First Annual Native American Celebration at the Fort Missoula Powwow Grounds. Free events going on throughout the day include a powwow, a local crafts fair and information booths. They and other drum groups will combine to provide intertribal, social and round dances.
Many powwow participants feel that the powwow world has become too money-oriented.
Contest purses have been taking precedent over dancing for enjoyment, socialization and camaraderie of intertribal dances. At Friday's celebration, Roberts said they will instead be giving gifts to participants and dance category exhibitions. He said many reservation communities are starting to offer non-contest traditional powwows where the emphasis is on having a good time and not on prize money for dance contests. We are putting on this event as a way of giving something back to the community while celebrating our native heritage. Please include you full name, address, and current phone number so that we can verify the letter's authenticity.