Greetings to all.
So, my weekend was spent at Pow wow, it was fun and made me think a lot. While fun it made me think because of the reason pow wow is held each year.
For those who don’t know the history of Mankato Minnesota regarding the Dekota people, on December 26 at 10:00 AM 38 of the Dekota leaders were hanged in the largest US government ordered mass-exicution in Mankato MN, actually the history of the United States for their war crimes. Basically one of the reason’s pow wow is held is to bring both natives and whites alike together for reconciliation and so that the Dekota people can begin or continue to heal from the things that were done to their people. Things that never should have bene done. I’m not saying what they did was right either but we, meaning our people did horrible things to them. I won’t go into all of the details as I’m going to be posting links you can go to if interested. Every year an annual pow wow is held to honor those that were exicuted. Lots of food, music and dancing along with many booths with things that one can purchase can be found there. They have jewelry, furs, native american flutes, different herbs, pottery, native american music CDs and all sorts of other things are at these booths.
When I’m there, I get feelings that I can’t even begin to describe. When I hear the drums and the singing I get chills all over and I’m held captive by it all. It’s almost like I belong there, I’m supposed to be there. I can’t explain it. I’m not sure if it’s because of my empathic abilities that I can feel what they are going through or what…it’s just something I can’t put into words so I’m not going to try anymore.
I did buy a few things while there. I got a t-shirt and on the front it has an eagle and it says something in the dekota language and on the back it has the names of the 38 that were hanged and the shirt is black. I also got a hoodie that is gray and it’s the exact same as my t-shirt. I needed a hoodie as I don’t have enough of them, really I don’t and I love hoodies. I met a man there who was running the native american flute booth and when I got there he was actually making a flute and then began to play it after he was done crafting it. He was amazing! I’d have bought a flute but I didn’t have the funds, they run anywhere from $100-300 dollars. I did get his information and when I do have the extra funds I will order one from him, he also told me that if I was interested in lessons after pow wow was done he’d teach me and all I’d have to do is call him. I told him that I did play flute in band in school and he said if I could play that, I’d be able to play one of the native american flutes. So I’m very much looking forward to learning.
So now, here are some sites you can visit if you are interested in the history of the pow wow and the reason we have it. Also some other sites on the Dekota war and a movie on the Dekota 38 that were hanged. They tie into pow wow and that’s why I post this as well. The movie I have seen and it made me cry. These can go into many more details than I ever could so check them out if you are interested.
Here…
Here…
And here…
And the movie…
The movie about the Dekota 38
I don’t do a lot of educational entries but this one I felt needed to be posted. There are some things I’m very passionate about and this is one of them. I absolutely love the native american people. I think they are very wise and they know many things. I know what we, our people did to them and they weren’t so kind to us either but they were only trying to defend themselves and their lands. The treaties should have never been broken and there were many mistakes during those trials. There are times I’m ashamed to live in Minnesota because it’s a very racist state when it comes to the native americans and I don’t like it. I’m not saying we all are that way here in MN but history says that it’s a racist state and it needs to change. What happened happened so long ago and it’s time to forgive and let everyone heal from it. I don’t see why we all can’t get along and live as one, again just one of my dreams.
Anyway, if you get a chance to go to a pow wow, go! You will have fun and the food’s good too. 🙂
This is all from here for now. I hope you all have a great night.
Love to all, XO
Lily