POST FALLS - Dusty Hanks will swoop in on his tribal heritage on Saturday.

It will be from an airplane about 4,500 feet from the ground.

Hanks, a Coeur d'Alene Tribe member who graduated from Bonners Ferry High in 1994, will sky dive to the tribe's Julyamsh pow wow at the Greyhound Park and Event Center in Post Falls on Saturday at 6 p.m.

"I thought that it would be neat to jump into this big event," the 37-year old said.

What a spectacular way to return to your tribal roots.

Hanks, who was adopted, hasn't attended the pow wow or spent much time around Native American culture.

"It's all fairly new to me," he said. "It's a chance for me to learn about my culture and where I came from."

It'll also be an induction for his wife, Holly, and their three kids - Aidan, Cole and Kayla.

"The kids are interested in learning more about our Native American history," Hanks said.

The four will be at the pow wow to welcome Hanks back to life on earth.

"They're my ground support," he said, adding that his dive will reach a top speed of about 120 mph.

Hanks will bring an American flag and an eagle feather into the pow wow.

"I love the freedom that skydiving gives you," he said. "You're not just falling. You're flying your body through the sky."

Hanks, who has been skydiving for 19 years, has performed about 3,000 dives from planes and another 400 off bases such as cliffs or buildings.

He plans to skydive for as long as he can and he has always been a thrill seeker, participating in activities ranging from motocross to bungee jumping.

Hanks was part of a world-record group effort last year in which 138 sky divers were joined during the fall.

"It took us three days and 15 tries," said Hanks, who has lived in Utah for the past 15 years and owns a company called Compulsive Flyers in Salt Lake City. "We jumped from seven different airplanes."

He was also a part of the previous record of 108.

Hanks has never been hurt while sky diving. But there have been tense moments. He has had to cut his main parachute 12 times and rely on his reserve.

"Malfunctions happen," he said. "But as long as you have the skills to save your life - that's something they teach you when you start skydiving - it becomes second nature."

The pow wow opens today. A hand drum exhibition is at 5:30 p.m., horse parade contest at 6:30 and the grand entry at 7 p.m. It continues through Sunday.

Pow wowhighlights

• Grand entries of the Julyamsh pow wow at the Greyhound Park and Event Center in Post Falls are scheduled for 7 p.m. tonight, 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday and 1 p.m. on Sunday. A hand drum exhibition and horse parade contest will precede each of the grand entries. Admission is free. Parking is $5. There will be food and craft vendors and dance and drum contests.