Dancing, drumming, stick game at Pow Wow

USK – The 47th annual Kalispel Tribal Pow Wow will take place Friday-Sunday, Aug. 2-4, complete with dancing, drumming, a bison feed, softball tournament and fun run, along with stick games.

Things start Thursday with a campers’ night. That night there is a name giving ceremony for beginning dancers and a Tribal Memorial dinner in honor of those who have passed away.

The action gets underway for the general public Friday, with canoes arriving at 2 p.m. The grand entry gets underway at 7 p.m. There is a grand entry Saturday at 1 p.m. and another at 7 p.m.

The dance and drum competitions will award cash prizes.

“Last year we had dancers from Ft. Lauderdale, New York, and Canada,” tribal elder Francis Culluyah said.

One dancer will walk away with $10,000 from the Kalispel Prairie Chicken Dance Special, Culluyah said. The payout for that dance alone will total $20,000.

Stick games are also a big part of the Pow Wow, with $28,000 paid out in the stick game tournaments.

Drummers will compete for $31,000 in prize money. There will be a Stick Game Tournament with a $10,000 first prize and a Youth Stick Game Tournament with a $3,000 first prize.

Saturday things will get underway with the Buffalo Fun Run at 10 a.m. At 11:30 a.m. the bison barbecue will take place.

Sunday the grand entry takes place at 1 p.m. The Kalispel Pow Wow is a free event. No alcohol, drugs or firearms are allowed and vehicles are subject to search.