Post by Moon Seeker on Jul 5, 2009 10:23:48 GMT -5
American Indians celebrate Freedom Days with contest powwow
— By Brendan Giusti — The Daily Times
Posted: 07/04/2009 11:06:43 PM MDT
FARMINGTON — Repetitive rhythms played on a series of drums filled the air during the ninth Contest Powwow at Farmington High School on Saturday.
Dancers were dressed in colorful costumes accented by beaded jewelry and elaborate feathered headdresses. The 97 participants in the powwow, which ranged from younger than 6 to older than 65, added sounds to the drum beats as they danced around the gymnasium with bells fastened to their ankles.
The powwow was part of the 23rd Freedom Days celebration, which included four days of events across the city.
While there are other powwows in the region, this particular event is one of the few in town, said Wilbur Toledo, who pushed for the event to be included in the Freedom Days schedule.
"This is good for people who aren't financially situated to travel," Toledo said.
The dancers in the competition were mostly from the Four Corners area, but several traveled from Canada to participate.
Thirty-year-old Farmington resident Eldora Beyale was one of the participants, donning an elaborate costume sewn by her mother and beaded jewelry crafted by a friend.
"It's a lot of practice," Beyale said of dancing in powwows. "You have to focus on the drum beat."
The Farmington competition was Beyale's second, though she has danced and competed in others for the past 20 years.
The powwow used to be a competition between the dancers and drummers, but now the dancers compete against each other, she said.
Each dancer earns points for things such as presentation, style and costume. At the end of the competition, the points are tallied and prizes are handed out.
And while the dancing and costumes are a huge part of the event, the songs played on the drums and sung are what drives Beyale to participate, she said.
Brendan Giusti: bgiusti@daily-times.com
www.daily-times.com/ci_12756233
— By Brendan Giusti — The Daily Times
Posted: 07/04/2009 11:06:43 PM MDT
FARMINGTON — Repetitive rhythms played on a series of drums filled the air during the ninth Contest Powwow at Farmington High School on Saturday.
Dancers were dressed in colorful costumes accented by beaded jewelry and elaborate feathered headdresses. The 97 participants in the powwow, which ranged from younger than 6 to older than 65, added sounds to the drum beats as they danced around the gymnasium with bells fastened to their ankles.
The powwow was part of the 23rd Freedom Days celebration, which included four days of events across the city.
While there are other powwows in the region, this particular event is one of the few in town, said Wilbur Toledo, who pushed for the event to be included in the Freedom Days schedule.
"This is good for people who aren't financially situated to travel," Toledo said.
The dancers in the competition were mostly from the Four Corners area, but several traveled from Canada to participate.
Thirty-year-old Farmington resident Eldora Beyale was one of the participants, donning an elaborate costume sewn by her mother and beaded jewelry crafted by a friend.
"It's a lot of practice," Beyale said of dancing in powwows. "You have to focus on the drum beat."
The Farmington competition was Beyale's second, though she has danced and competed in others for the past 20 years.
The powwow used to be a competition between the dancers and drummers, but now the dancers compete against each other, she said.
Each dancer earns points for things such as presentation, style and costume. At the end of the competition, the points are tallied and prizes are handed out.
And while the dancing and costumes are a huge part of the event, the songs played on the drums and sung are what drives Beyale to participate, she said.
Brendan Giusti: bgiusti@daily-times.com
www.daily-times.com/ci_12756233