By DENISE MASSIE

Pharos-Tribune

As the drums held a steady rhythm, a number of local veterans and tribal members danced around the dance circle while wearing a colorful array of clothing, known as “Dance Regalia.”

Several of the men held large flags, which were placed on display once the music had stopped.

This was the site for the grand entry during the second annual Eel River Tribe Pow Wow, during the Memorial Day weekend at France Park. Grand entry is considered the first dance of the pow wow. As the drums begin, the dancers enter the sacred circle of life, which signifies the beginning of life.

Master of Ceremonies LeRoy Malaterre explained who everyone was and where they were from as the participants entered the circle for the first dance.

The pow wow was held on Saturday afternoon with the first grand entry at noon and a second one at 6:30 p.m. until dusk. Another grand entry was held Sunday at 1 p.m. with a pow wow until dusk.

Today, members of the Eel River Tribe will participate in the annual Memorial Day Parade, which begins at 9:45 a.m. at Logansport City Hall and continues to Mount Hope Cemetery.

The pow wow was something the Eel River Tribe wanted to hold and according to tribe member Jack Floyd Jr., the timing was finally right last year.

Jack was also pleased with this year’s turnout and said it was double from last year’s.

Walton resident Brandy Rodabaugh attended the event for the first time and brought her six-year-old twin daughters, Madison and Taylor.

“I thought it would be something unique for my girls to see,” said Rodabaugh. “They are impressed with the outfits.”

Taylor enjoyed the dance outfits the most and said they were pretty. Madison’s favorite part was the flag dance. Rodabaugh was also impressed with the dance outfits and the music performed during the pow wow. She even became a bit emotional.

“When they first started with all the different people who actually have Indian heritage and served our country, I teared up,” she said.

The event was marked as a learning experience for the family, who never expected the pow wow to be as large as it was. The twins had fun pulling their mom into the dance circle to participate during the intertribal dances.

Eel River Tribe Chief Mike Floyd said members of the local tribe decided to hold the pow wow again simply because it is what they do. Pow wows have been a long-lived tradition for hundreds of years.

The only difference from last year’s event was the location in France Park. Mike said the area used last year had flooded, so the event was moved to higher grounds at the park.

The pow wow weekend was filled with a variety of activities, including drumming and dancing and eating. There were several specialty dances and intertribal dances, which allowed everyone to join the dance circle.

It also brought vendors who sold a variety of items including, clothing, wood sculptures, jewelry, dream catchers and other Native American crafts.

According to Mike, crafters came from as far away as New Mexico and Canada. In all, 13 different states were represented at the annual event.

One of those vendors was area resident Sheila Davis, who worked on a wall hanging on Saturday afternoon.

“This is a different form of a dream catcher,” she explained. “It’s a spirit wheel. I’m attempting to tie this tricky bird on here.”

Davis had several of her creations for sale at the pow wow, varying in size and color patterns. She has been making the craft for the last 18 years and said it’s something she has always been interested in, especially after she discovered she had Indian heritage.

Since the first one created, Davis has used the traditional style to create each wall hanging. Over time, she has developed her own unique style by using a variety of shells, feathers, beads and charms.

“I just like to put colors together,” she said. “I usually put more beads on them than traditionally.”

Davis attended the pow wow last year, after she discovered Mike was her cousin. She added the pow wow tradition is important to continue.

“Our people are so friendly,” she said. “You walk in here and it’s a chance to leave your troubles behind.”

Both Mike and Jack also feel the importance to continue the long-lived tradition and enjoyed different aspects of the weekend’s events.

For Mike, it was a time to meet up with old friends, who he hadn’t seen over the winter months.

Jack said the importance of the pow wow for him was something else.

“Honoring the veterans,” he said. “Remembering the sacrifices of the past and what they will do in the future.”



Want to learn more?

For more information on the Eel River Tribe of Indiana, visit www.eelrivertribeofindiana.org.



Denise Massie is a staff writer at the Pharos-Tribune. She can be reached at (574) 732-5151 or denise.massie@pharostribune.com