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Even though I always try to make 4-5 pow wows a year, Red Earth always comes at a bad time of year for me. This year I was determined to blow off all other business and make it to OKC and I finally did it. Red earth was a whole new ballgame for me. I guess you would say the pow wows I have always attended are on the small side. I have never been to one as big as Red Earth and it was very different than what I was used to.
Everyone said the overall numbers were down this year but for me it still seemed like a lot of people. Maybe fewer spectators than I expected. I wish Livingston wasn’t on the same weekend, ‘cause I’d like to see that one also. A more typical pow wow for me would be, say, Sac & Fox in Stroud, so you see, this was very different.
I’ve never seen so many dancers at one time. However, I think what blew me away was all the drum groups. I’m not used to having more than one or two. I was so impressed with the singing. I think they were all really good, but I think my favorites were Midnight Express and Poor Boyz. (keep in mind I’m just a white spectator…so what do I know about singing…those were just the 2 that I personally enjoyed most)
I did miss most of the contests as they were apparently done early on and I didn’t make it till Saturday. Lots and lots of inter-tribals. No dance contests Saturday evening, but did catch some tie-breakers on Sunday. Sunday was great. The spontaneous “stomp the yard” circle in the arena corner was tremendous, especially when they got the singers to dance, and even got Ruben to join in. I don’t know how “traditionalists” might feel about the whole thing, but it was very entertaining and everyone seemed to be having a lot of fun.
I spent all of Saturday & Sunday sitting on the front row directly behind Paul & Stacy, watching both the pow wow, and how they covered it for the live webcast. Anyone who watches the pow wow on the website owes a debt of gratitude to these folks. They work very hard to get the best shots, and stay very busy working the computers and moving cameras around dragging cords behind them as they go. Last year I watched Red Earth on the webcast and my hats off to them both for their hard work. Thanks guys!
So even though “numbers were down” and I heard some comments about “not being what it’s been in the past”, I thought it was a great time. I can’t evaluate a pow wow as a dancer, or even as a native, but as a white spectator, it was very impressive and I hope they keep it going in the future. I’d like to come back again. Maybe if the economy gets better the numbers will get better as well.
Everyone said the overall numbers were down this year but for me it still seemed like a lot of people. Maybe fewer spectators than I expected. I wish Livingston wasn’t on the same weekend, ‘cause I’d like to see that one also. A more typical pow wow for me would be, say, Sac & Fox in Stroud, so you see, this was very different.
I’ve never seen so many dancers at one time. However, I think what blew me away was all the drum groups. I’m not used to having more than one or two. I was so impressed with the singing. I think they were all really good, but I think my favorites were Midnight Express and Poor Boyz. (keep in mind I’m just a white spectator…so what do I know about singing…those were just the 2 that I personally enjoyed most)
I did miss most of the contests as they were apparently done early on and I didn’t make it till Saturday. Lots and lots of inter-tribals. No dance contests Saturday evening, but did catch some tie-breakers on Sunday. Sunday was great. The spontaneous “stomp the yard” circle in the arena corner was tremendous, especially when they got the singers to dance, and even got Ruben to join in. I don’t know how “traditionalists” might feel about the whole thing, but it was very entertaining and everyone seemed to be having a lot of fun.
I spent all of Saturday & Sunday sitting on the front row directly behind Paul & Stacy, watching both the pow wow, and how they covered it for the live webcast. Anyone who watches the pow wow on the website owes a debt of gratitude to these folks. They work very hard to get the best shots, and stay very busy working the computers and moving cameras around dragging cords behind them as they go. Last year I watched Red Earth on the webcast and my hats off to them both for their hard work. Thanks guys!
So even though “numbers were down” and I heard some comments about “not being what it’s been in the past”, I thought it was a great time. I can’t evaluate a pow wow as a dancer, or even as a native, but as a white spectator, it was very impressive and I hope they keep it going in the future. I’d like to come back again. Maybe if the economy gets better the numbers will get better as well.
No, he did pretty good.....at least he got out there! 
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