Ft. McDowell Casino Pow Wow

[skybird5]

I was looking at the schedule posted online at the Ft.McDowell Casino website last night and it says that each group of dancers will have winners announced right after their group contests.
So Friday night-Golden Age contests, winners announced and they're done. Saturday night-Adult women, both age groups contest,winners announced and they're done. Sunday afternoon-Adult men contest, etc.

My thoughts: Is that really a pow wow??? It sounds more like a dance contest only. Which is fine, but why not call it a DANCE CONTEST.
Registration closes at 5pm on Saturday, so an adult woman dancer could show up at 4:30 Saturday, register, dance in their contest and pick up any winnings and leave saturday night. Never having been in a Grand Entry or inter tribal or anything. I mean, am I understanding this right?

So grand entry on Sunday will be a bunch of men? Gee, they're supposed to pick head man/women at each session, wouldn't that be funny if there were NO women dancers to choose from? I was already kind of put off because you literally can't participate if you're under age 21, which really seems exclusionary-but as I understand it, it's because it's a CASINO. Still, a pow wow with no tiny tots??

I was thinking about dancing but it doesnt seem like it's going to be the usual "pow wow" kind of atmosphere, so maybe not.

Anyone else have any thoughts?

[SV_SB]

Talkin' with some people, I got the impression that there's not going to be a need for visiting drums (no drum contest advertised). I may be wrong (and if I am, I am sure someone will TELL me off that I am) but that leaves me, and some others, to believe they will not allow drums other than the hosts to set up. Which is fine, but, yeah, the way it's advertised, that's one practical assumption I've been hearing people wonder about.

[sltate]

In reality, this is the old way of pow wow. Once they added contests, then you danced your contest, got judged, they paid you and you danced all three nights anyway. This is how WhiteEagle still does their pow wow and they have been having pow wow for over a hundred years.
I heard they are giving day money to dancers every session. I know I went to ft mcdowell a few years back and this is how they did it then too. the people who ran it were from oklahoma and thats how we used to do contests back in the day. So if this is unfamiliar to you, its because you are not from the old school of pow wow and contest dancing.
People will dance if they have the heart to dance all three nights...and not just contests. Most people will anyway. They do here in oklahoma and the staff is mostly from here. . .
I commend them for doing things the old way....

[sltate]

I remember when I went to pow wows in the late 70's up north and they did the elimination process. The first night everybody danced, in adults, and they called 3 numbers out and those 3 made the finals for sunday night. they were done, if they chose not to dance again, and the next night they did the same thing until they had their finalists. then they danced again sunday night for the money...it was awesome....so "pow wow" per say has not been like it is now. It has evolved to what you see now. And it is all about contests no matter how you look at it..unless its a traditional pow wow or a pow wow on the reservations. Casino pow wow has become the norm for the terminology "pow wow"...lol...

[skybird5]

In reality, this is the old way of pow wow. Once they added contests, then you danced your contest, got judged, they paid you and you danced all three nights anyway. This is how WhiteEagle still does their pow wow and they have been having pow wow for over a hundred years.
I heard they are giving day money to dancers every session. I know I went to ft mcdowell a few years back and this is how they did it then too. the people who ran it were from oklahoma and thats how we used to do contests back in the day. So if this is unfamiliar to you, its because you are not from the old school of pow wow and contest dancing.
People will dance if they have the heart to dance all three nights...and not just contests. Most people will anyway. They do here in oklahoma and the staff is mostly from here. . .
I commend them for doing things the old way....

I'm just bummed because there won't be any tiny tots.

[Tom Clinton]

There are still several pow wows in OK that do it

that way. I think really it is so people can still contest and don't have to miss 3 days of work to dance. Since we all have to have at least 1 job to get by, many people here have more than one job.

[xTekno]

I don't know, but April is the start of excellent bike riding season here in AZ.

Lots of stuff going on at Cyclefest for AZ Bike Week: Arizona Bike Week 2009

[BurBz]

I don't know, but April is the start of excellent bike riding season here in AZ.

Lots of stuff going on at Cyclefest for AZ Bike Week: Arizona Bike Week 2009

WOOHOO!! BIKE WEEK!!!!!

[xTekno]

WOOHOO!! BIKE WEEK!!!!!

Hey Daughter, check out my new rides in my photo albums!!

[xTekno]

Most of the day will be nice, with partly cloudy skies and temperatures near normal, ranging from 77-82 in the Valley. A large storm will move through the southwest this afternoon and evening, bringing increased cloud cover, a chance of precipitation, and strong winds.

A High Pollution Advisory is in effect for the Valley today, due to blowing dust and sand. Avoid outdoor activity, if at all possible, especially, if you are sensitive to air pollution.

A Red Flag Warning has been issued for southeast and southwest Arizona, including the Phoenix metro area, through tonight. Winds are expected to gust near 45 mph in these locations, and with low relative humidity expected, there is an increased risk for wildfires.

The majority of the state is under Wind Advisories today. Stronger winds are expected in the High Country as well, so a High Wind Warning is in effect for parts of Coconino, Apache, and Navajo counties, starting at 8am, and lasting through 8pm. Winds in these areas could get up to 60 mph at times!

[KokopelliOH]

Speaking of jobs, a job transfer took me out to Scottsdale, after many years of trying! This will be the first pow wow we go to in Arizona, after many years of going to small pow wows in Ohio. We didn't start going to contests until recently.

I don't know if I am going to bring one or more flutes ... maybe two in the same key ... one for my wife and one for myself so we can make a little harmony!!

KokopelliOH

[injunboy]

thats cool! well let us know how it went.. pics too if u can

[superndngyrl]

winners?

[BurBz]

Hmmmm..we went..yesterday. Just for about an hour or less. HA!! It was interesting, the set up, the amount of biligana's was ummmm ridiculous! Let's just say, it was more of a "tourist attraction". I've never seen so many biligana's in my life! LMFAO!!! It was hot, poor dancers, danced on the parking lot pavement, no padding, no covering over the grease spots. Lines for the food booth was very long...with biliganas. LOL! Hmmm i think i only seen at most 6 women dancers for yesterdays' grand entry. LOL!! But it was hot..lol Maybe they should have it in the "Conference Center" next year! LOL!!!

[xTekno]

Stopped by for a bit on Saturday afternoon, but went back to Cyclefest for Cheap Trick! The best part was the motorcycle parking that was right in front of the entrance to the powwow area.