ONE FEATHER STAFF REPORT
Dancers compete in the Daniel Marvin French Memorial Fancy Dance contest at the 2009 Cherokee July Pow Wow. Shown left-right are Jay Hill, Josh Hill (2009 Champion), and Boye Ladd Jr. (Photo courtesy of Sarah Crow)
The annual Cherokee July 4th pow wow kicks off Friday, July 2 with a grand entry at 7pm. The three-day event is being held at a new location – the Cherokee Events Center aka the old Cherokee High School field.
“Pow wows are hugely popular social gatherings within Native communities that feature authentic Indian competitive dancing, drumming and tribal regalia,” said Mary Jane Ferguson, EBCI director of Marketing and Promotions. “Visitors to Cherokee’s pow wow will experience a colorful explosion of energy as people of all ages from across the country gather to watch and participate in Traditional, Fancy Shawl, Grass, Two Step, Jingle and the Daniel French Memorial dance competitions.”
This year’s host drums are Short Bull (host northern) from New Town, ND and Black Bear Creek (host southern) from Pawnee, Okla.
The emcees for the event are Rob Daugherty, a member of the Cherokee Nation from Jay, Okla, and Kenny Scabbyrobe, a member of the Blackfeet Nation from White Swan, WA. Both men are fluent speakers of their native language.
Phillip “Yogi” Bread, from Tahlequah, Okla. will serve as the arena director. The head dance judge will be Sidrick Baker from New Town, ND and head singing judge will be Mike Thompson, an EBCI tribal member, from Cherokee, NC. Thompson is the head singer for the Awohali Singers.
Dance and singing contests will be held throughout the weekend in various categories and there are also numerous special contests planned including: Men’s Traditional, Old Style Grass, Fancy Shawl, Best Dressed Drum, Hand Drum, etc. The annual Daniel Marvin French Memorial Fancy Dance contest is also being planned with $1,500 in prize money.
For more information on the pow wow, call (800) 438-1601 or view the flyer here: https://www.theonefeather.com/2010/04/12/cherokee-july-4th-pow-wow/
