Wakalapi

SKYKOMISH VALLEY INDIAN EDUCATION POWWOW
The Skykomish Valley Indian Education association serving the Monroe and Sultan school districts in western Washington, is planning the organization's first-ever POWWOW. The tentative date and location is Saturday, April 2, 2005 at the Monroe Junior High School main gym. As the default powwow coordinator I tried to suggest a two or three day powwow, but the administrative liaison to the school district thinks that might be pushing our luck the first year. So we will have a one day powwow with Grand Entry at the "usual" times of Noon or 1pm and 6 or 7pm. The Skykomish Valley Indian Education program has been around since the early 1980's and serves kids of Native heritage throughout the Monroe and Sultan school districts.

SPECIALS:
At this time we are planning no contests, but there will be specials. A $500 teen boys' all-category special has been offered by JR's Crafts (www.jrscrafts.com) owned and operated by John Romero (Eastern Shoshone). A $500 youth drum contest will be sponsored by The Northwest's Powwow Site (www.nwpowwow.com) operated by yours truly, prerequisites will be at least five registered singers age 12 and under, and no singers over 16. A tiny tots special will be held by one of the organization families, prizes yet to be determined. Other specials TBA.

EXHIBITIONS and HONORINGS:
Hoopdancers Jeremy Miller (Puyallup) and his twin sons Sky and Salish (Puyallup/Lakota) have been invited to do an exhibition. Tulalip and Samish canoe families will be invited to perform exhibition paddle dances in honor of the families descended from villages once inhabiting our valley. Others TBA. I am trying to keep powwow dance time to a maximum and additional specials to a minimum, while accommodating requests as much as we can.

ROYALTY:
We are planning to have a royalty pageant, details to follow at a later time.

HEAD STAFF so far:
MC - Arnold Littlehead, Fort Peck, MT
AD - David Bigby, Fort Belknap, MT
Host Drum - Spearish, Yakama Nation
Honor Drum - Native Spirit, the organization's youth drum.
Headman/Headwoman still TBA. Open to nominations.

MEETINGS:
The powwow committee will be meeting occasionally throughout the summer, and once weekly during the school year. Meetings are generally at the same time as Native Spirit youth drum practices on Wednesday evenings at the Monroe School District administration building. Comments or suggestions can be PM'd to Wakalapi.

__________________

"Friends don't let friends drink decaf..."