International Powwow Draws Hundreds of Performers From All Over North America

Native American tribes from all corners of the state and Canada are here sharing their culture, and competing to be named the best singers and dancers.

This is the first International Crossroads Powwow Competition in Fargo-Moorhead.

Twenty drum groups from different parts of North America shook the Scheels Arena.
 
Powwows are a traditional social gathering, but today’s get-together is a contest.

Organizers say this brings the finest dancers and singers to the Fargo-Moorhead area, and that it’s been a long time coming.
 
“We have the good venues for it, so a lot of the dancers wanted to come here too. So it’s just kind of merging the local communities with the powwow people so that’s where we came up with this,” says President of Crossroads Powwow, Scott Satermo.
 
More than 500 dancers wore their tribal regalia proudly and performed during the Grand Entry.

This sundancer from the Lakota tribe says dancing is good for the soul.
 
“Because it heals you out in the center. That’s why I pray the sacred center that people come in and get prayed for with all these eagle feathers that we wear. We earned them,” says Ronald Eagle Chasing of Lakota Sundancer.
 
The powwow competition gives performers a chance to show off their skills, but it’s also an opportunity to showcase their culture.
 
“A lot of the things that we do in our culture are always respect, honor and love your fellow man,” says traditional dancer Vera Kingbird.
 
Love plays a big part in powwows.

It’s a feeling that some say instilled when you’re a kid and never dies out.
 
Kingbird explains, “I’ve been doing it since I was a young girl. My grandma use to tell me, ‘you got to dance, you got to dance at powwows.'”
 
Organizers hope this weekend’s powwow will become a long tradition in the Fargo-Moorhead community.

You have another chance to see the singers and dancers Sunday at 1 p.m. at Scheels Arena.