Yuba-sutter Winter Pow Wow celebrates culture and history
Apowerful drum, played by several people from the Northern Eagle Singers, reverberated through the Allyn Scott Youth and Community Center as dancers, drummers and singers celebrated “living history.”
Attendees and vendors filled the halls and surrounding area on Saturday during the Yuba-sutter Winter Pow Wow while emcee Val Shadowhawk kept the audience informed and the rhythm of the day on track.
“Living history,” Shadowhawk, 58, said. “It’s good to let people know they’re watching something very special that represents the history and the culture – it’s not just entertaining.”
Shadowhawk, who has been emceeing events for about half of his life, said a big component of getting together for a pow-wow is to help maintain a sense of community.
“This is community – one, big family,” Shadowhawk said. “All tribes see each other as relations.”
Shadowhawk, who is Blackfoot, Cree, Choctaw and Missouri, said he prefers to use the term “indigenous people” when talking about tribes and bands.
James Yadon took part in the gourd dance and said the event is crucial to passing on traditions.
“It brings everybody together and everybody gets something out of it,” Yadon said. “It’s important that the young are here and learn about the culture and tradition so that it doesn’t die.”
Marcelino Mora, 11, of Sacramento, was given the honor of carrying the eagle staff to start the grass dance.
“He’s adopted and it’s important that he learns the tradition and culture,” said his grandmother, who didn’t want her name used. “He’s very humbled to be getting mentored by Val Shadowhawk and Eugene Newman.”
The event was sponsored by the American Indian Education Program of Marysville and the Yuba-sutter Pow Wow.