The 53rd Annual Stanford University Pow Wow was held in Palo Alto, CA on the Stanford University campus. It is held outdoors in the Eucalyptus Grove. It is always held on Mother’s Day weekend, and my family and I have been attending this very special event for many, many years.
On the Stanford University website, it states “Powwow is a celebration of life and Indigeneity. Join us in solidarity as we celebrate our traditions, ancestors, and mother’s this Mother’s Day Weekend.” Here is a link to the website The Stanford Powwow .
The Stanford Pow Wow is one of the largest Native American Pow Wow’s held in Northern California. Some of the best Native American singers, dancers, artists and Emcee’s attend. I look forward to it every year because it is a chance for many of us urban Native American’s to reconnect with the drums, the songs, and each other. This year’s Pow Wow Emcee’s were our treasured community member Tom Phillips Sr., and the talented Ruben Little Head of Little Head Entertainment. It was such a treat to have both of them hosting these years Pow Wow. Tom Phillips Sr. is Kiowa, and has been hosting many of our Bay Area Pow Wow’s for years. He is so eloquent, and he is very well respected in our community. He was joined by the talented Ruben Little Head. Ruben travels all over North America emceeing Pow Wow’s. He is a member of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe of Lame Deer Montana. In the Bacone College article written in February 2021 Ruben says “I’ve also spent 15 years dancing in pow wows, Native gatherings, and I’ve been an emcee/announcer for most of my life,” he said. “It’s allowed me to travel, to experience, to spend time with different tribes, and to learn customs and lifestyles.” I would like to thank both he, Tom Phillps Sr., and the longtime Arena Director Darrell for being there this year.
My mother, Aunty and I arrived Saturday afternoon right before the Hand Drum Singing Contest. The songs that were sung sure were pretty, and I was so happy we arrived in time to see them. I took a few videos which you can see below:
Stanford Pow Wow 2024 – Hand Drum Contest (youtube.com)
Stanford Pow Wow 2024 Hand Drum Contest (youtube.com)
Stanford Pow Wow 2024 – Hand Drum Contest (youtube.com)
Stanford Pow Wow 2024 Hand Drum Contest (youtube.com)
In speaking with my sister Nikki who is a Jingle Dress dancer from the Northern Minnestoa Red Lake Nation, as well as Athabascan Alaskan Native. She said that “The drum brings people together. It is the heartbeat of the Nation, and the drum is the voice.” She said “the drum is a strand that connects us to other cultures.” Many other cultures have drums in their traditional songs, such as tribes in Africa, and the Aztec dancers of Mexico who also danced at Stanford Pow Wow. She said “the drum helps show us our similarities. It weaves us together. ” Some of the Hand Drum songs are love songs, and a way for singers to serenade their partners, as well as the community.
The Headman & Headwoman Dancers this year Marshall Baker, and Lara Lasley danced beautifully all weekend. They hosted a Sweetheart Dance Special on Saturday night. It was one of the highlights of the Pow Wow. Our very own community members Kiona Young and Daniel LeRoy won 2nd Place! All of the dancers danced really well. Here is a link to the video I took of the Sweetheart Dance Special.
Stanford Pow Wow 2024 ~ Sweetheart Dance Special (youtube.com)
There are other video’s on Youtube of the Pow Wow that you can watch. The Men’s Northern Traditional Contest was really special on Saturday night. There was a Horse Dancer, as well as a Chicken Dancer, and it was a memorable contest. Young Enemy the Northern Host drum, and Blazing Bear the Host Southern Drum sang well, as did all of the drums.
Sunday was Mother’s Day, and highlighted the women. 2023’s Stanford Pow Wow’s Head Woman Dancer Arnita Goodface-Swanson said the opening prayer. She said that we should “focus on the moment. Tomorrow is not promised, so we should all focus on the moment. She said that we should be good to one each other.” It was a beautiful prayer. A reminder for us to appreciate the loved ones in our lives. It was a time to reflect and for us all to continue to pray for World Peace. These are difficult and challenging times. We were taught by the late great Medicine Man Robert Steed from Rosebud, South Dakota that when we pray with one heart, one mind it is very powerful. I will continue to pray for World Peace.
The Jingle Dress dancers blessed the Pow Wow arena after the Gourd Dance, and Sunday’s dancing began. There was a Veteran’s Honor Song, and it was beautiful to see some of the Veteran’s there get up and dance! One of the Veteran’s was turning 100!
I took a few more videos that day before my cell phone ran out of space!
Stanford Pow Wow 2024 ~ Women’s Jingle (youtube.com)
Stanford Pow Wow 2024 ~ Women’s Northern Traditional (youtube.com)
Stanford Pow Wow 2024 ~ Women’s Northern Traditional (youtube.com)
This last video is one of the prettiest songs that I heard the Host Southern Drum Blazing Bear sing all weekend. I can’t believe that my storage space ran out before the song was over, but perhaps I was meant to just enjoy that moment and dance.
Stanford Pow Wow 2024 ~ Women’s Southern Traditional (youtube.com)
I am so grateful that I was able to go with our mother Diane, and I thank her for raising us close to the Native American Community. Like many I feel a profound connection to our traditions and to our ceremonies. I would like to thank the Stanford Pow Wow Commitee for continuing to make this Pow Wow happen. I would also like to thank all the dancers, singers, the California Indian Dancers, The Aztec Dancers, the Gourd Dancers for sharing their gifts with us. Thank you to all of the wonderful Volunteers, Artist Vendors, and to the Amazing Food Booth’s for coming! We had dinner at the Wahpepah’s Kitchen Food Booth on Saturday night and it was delicious! Wahpepah’s Kitchen (wahpepahskitchen.com). It was a powerful weekend.
Community Rising! 