camping at a pow wow for the 1st time

[TamiJ]

Hello, I am new here and have a question.

In August I will be camping in Onamia at the Mille Lacs 38th annual pow wow.
My father is 7/8ths and lives/lived on the rez, which puts me just under 1/2 I guess- Ive never known him really at all. Talked to him a couple times on the phone but never even met. I dont even have any idea if he is still alive. Its been about 6-7 years since I have talked to him.

I was raised totally white and have been to a few pow wows as an adult, but never camped or anything. We dont dance or anything, but I wanna go for the weekend instead of just a few hours like we have done in the past.

Im a little shy , and have no idea what goes on really.
I have 6 kids and me and my husband and brother would be going.
Do I just show up and set up a camp site? Walk around and look like a dork, not knowing anybody?
What goes on? Will we feel out of place?
Does everyone else all generally know each other and will know we are strangers? LOL

My husband and kids are not shy- maybe they can meet people and we wont feel like fish out of water. :)

Anyone know what this pow wow is like?
Sheesh, what if we meet people who are part of my fathers family? That would be so awesome but Im not sure anyone even knows of my existance and I dont wanna make waves for him.

Is it noisey late into the night? Just wondering because I have a 8 month old baby who I might need to buy ear plugs for. ( Just kidding) but Im wondering if I'll be awake all night with the baby.

[WocusWoman]

Sounds like you need to get a lot more information about your father and his family, and about this powwow. I wouldn't just go on a whim without knowing much information about this powwow. The main thing is; you having such young kids. If your going to go ahead and camp there; I'd make back up plans such as finding out where the closest affordable motel/hotel are located. The best thing to do would be to locate some relations, and get ideas or make arrangements with them. That's sad you do not know your dad; but you'd best be advised to go after your trip has been better planned out.

[TamiJ]

Why do you have that opinion? Just curious :)
Knowing nothing about it, I am wondering why having young kids is a concern? Is there something about pow wows that I am not aware of that I should be conerned about?
How would I find out more about this one without calling up any relation? I dont know any of them, so that would be pretty hard to do.
Why would I need to make back up plans for a hotel?
Im asking these questions with all honesty. ( and naively)

Ive asked a few other people and they say just go and have fun and meet people.

Sounds like you need to get a lot more information about your father and his family, and about this powwow. I wouldn't just go on a whim without knowing much information about this powwow. The main thing is; you having such young kids. If your going to go ahead and camp there; I'd make back up plans such as finding out where the closest affordable motel/hotel are located. The best thing to do would be to locate some relations, and get ideas or make arrangements with them. That's sad you do not know your dad; but you'd best be advised to go after your trip has been better planned out.

[Kio-Manche]

You have many questions, and many of your questions are quite general. I know as far as camping goes, do you know what kind of facilities are there? You have small children, so unless you do know what type of camping facilities (bathrooms, showers, electricity, water) are available, a hotel/motel reservation would be prudent. If you do decide to camp, don't get too settled until you are sure that your not in someones "spot". I don't know what its like up north, but around Oklahoma, it is tradition that once you have a "spot", its yours the next year, unless you fail to show up. So if someone says move it, they aren't trying to offend you.
Is this an intertribal powwow? Is it a homecoming? My best advise would be to call the contact person on the flyer or whatever it is that you found out about it. Good luck,

[ojibwaysweetie]

I say, go and have fun.

:D

Rough camping is the most fun *LOL* :p Baby under my arms and three other kids following me. lmao. What can go wrong? There are many good people at powwows that are always willing to help with things (Ojibs are nice people..lol) :p ..but I'm quite sure you and your hubby are good, responsible parents to camp with kids for a weekend. LOL. Maybe it'll be a good chance for you to meet people and talk to some elders from there to find out about your roots there :D That'd be cool!

[TamiJ]

so unless you do know what type of camping facilities (bathrooms, showers, electricity, water) are available, a hotel/motel reservation would be prudent. >>>


It does say showers and free firewood.
Im going to assume there are bathrooms. :)
Im also going to assume no electricity or water, those we can deal without and bring our own drinks.

---it is tradition that once you have a "spot", its yours ----

Oh good point, I didnt even think of that.

--- My best advise would be to call the contact person on the flyer or whatever it is that you found out about it. ---

I think I will do that, thanks for the advice.


---- Baby under my arms and three other kids following me. lmao. What can go wrong? ---


LOL- how about a baby in a sling and 4 boys beating the crap out of each other knocking down our tent and me wagging my finger at them. LOL They got big sticks up there , maybe I can sit one by the tent and scare them into good behavior ( really, I am just kidding).


--- Maybe it'll be a good chance for you to meet people and talk to some elders from there to find out about your roots there That'd be cool! ----

Very cool :)

[sweetkwe69]

sheesh almost thinks you never went camping , but anyways they have showers on the site, a faucet for you to get water. U gotta have your own water bucket to keep it in. At the camp grounds there is first come first served kind of ordeal, meaning if you get there in the afternoon you will have a better choice in where you wanna camp. If not then just got whats left. Oh just the word of advice take a sweater for the evenings is off the lake and gets kind of chilly sometimes, but mostly its all good. Dang us Mille lackers are not some scruffy, mean people. lol!! The pow-wow its self is pretty good, Usally Amik tries to get the pow-woo done early in the evenings. As for hotels, you got the Grand Casino Hotel, Eddy's and EconoLodge that are the about the only ones in the area that are affordable well not the Casino but the others are nice there. As for having family there you more then likely do, as it seems lots of family related one way or the other. Just out of curiosity who is your dad? well any other questions just ask :)

[TamiJ]

Been camping plenty of times. My brother is also a cyclist/wilderness camper ( Hes doing a 500 mile round trip to Grand Marais here soon)
Its not the camping I am worried about. I know we can manage that.
Its just showing up and feeling like we know no one and being out of place that worries me. Also not knowing what goes on there, etiquette sorta thing, KWIM?

My father is a Kegg. Err umm Ernie to be exact :)
Sheesh, why do I feel like I am ratting him out or something?
Do you know of him? Hes the senior- I believe their is a Jr.
Thats really all I know.

sheesh almost thinks you never went camping , but anyways they have showers on the site, a faucet for you to get water. U gotta have your own water bucket to keep it in. At the camp grounds there is first come first served kind of ordeal, meaning if you get there in the afternoon you will have a better choice in where you wanna camp. If not then just got whats left. Oh just the word of advice take a sweater for the evenings is off the lake and gets kind of chilly sometimes, but mostly its all good. Dang us Mille lackers are not some scruffy, mean people. lol!! The pow-wow its self is pretty good, Usally Amik tries to get the pow-woo done early in the evenings. As for hotels, you got the Grand Casino Hotel, Eddy's and EconoLodge that are the about the only ones in the area that are affordable well not the Casino but the others are nice there. As for having family there you more then likely do, as it seems lots of family related one way or the other. Just out of curiosity who is your dad? well any other questions just ask :)

[River Spirit]

Danalee's #1 rule for camping at pow-wow: Always bring plenty of your own toilet paper!

I can handle most anything but not having THAT and it always seems to disappear early on...

[sweetkwe69]

man dont worry about not knowing anyone there or not being friendly. The are lots of keggs there. people are friendly, Ernie is still alive saw him yesterday. Well you got lots of relatives. ;)

[TamiJ]

Oh gosh! cool! Can you email me and tell me.. well.. ANYTHING? LOL
My email is [email protected]

I know really nothing- not any 1/2 brothers or sisters.. not what his life has been like, not what kind of person he is or anything.
I would be forever grateful to know anything.
Do you think he'll be there? Ive never even met him.
You know my dad :)
wow

man dont worry about not knowing anyone there or not being friendly. The are lots of keggs there. people are friendly, Ernie is still alive saw him yesterday. Well you got lots of relatives. ;)

[standstill]

TamiJ, I'm sending good thoughts your way. I hope you meet many relations.

[TamiJ]

TamiJ, I'm sending good thoughts your way. I hope you meet many relations.

Thank you for your good thoughts. I appreciate it. :)