Seeing Baby Opie and the family featured on The Jennifer Hudson Show was such a big moment. I love seeing pow wow culture get this kind of mainstream spotlight, especially in a way that feels joyful, respectful, and real.
If you’ve watched Baby Opie online, you already know why so many people are drawn to him. He’s got that kind of presence that just makes you smile. But what makes this even more meaningful to me is that this is not just a viral moment.
This is a family story.
This is tradition being lived, shared, and carried forward right in front of us.
What I really respect is how grounded this family is in culture and in each other. You can see it in the way they show up together, support each other, and keep the focus on song, dance, and tradition. It never feels like they’re chasing attention. It feels like they’re sharing who they are, and people are responding to that authenticity.
And I have to say, I love how much this reflects the power of family in the pow wow world. The kids are learning by being there, by watching, by doing, and by being surrounded by people who care deeply about passing these teachings on.
That is how culture stays strong. That is how the next generation grows up knowing exactly who they are.
When you look at Opie Day-Bedeau’s journey, you can see the roots of it all. He’s spent decades singing, leading, and living this life, and now you’re watching the next generation step into it with so much heart. That is what got me the most. You can feel that this comes from family, from community, and from culture.
I’m just really proud to see this happen for them. It feels like one of those moments where the pow wow world gets to be seen by people who might not have understood it before, and now they get a glimpse of the beauty, the pride, and the power in it.
Honestly, this is the kind of coverage I always hope for. Not watered down. Not tokenized.
Just real people sharing who they are and where they come from.
Big moment for this family, and a big moment for our whole pow wow community.
Follow the family!
Photo courtesy of the Jennifer Hudson show.
