The 2024 Graduate Honoring Powwow brought dancers, drum members, families, and spectators to the Joe McDonald Health and Fitness Center at Salish Kootenai College on May 17 and 18.

With three grand entries, 7 p.m. on May 17, and 1 and 7 p.m. on May 18, the Veteran’s Warrior Society was busy leading the grand entries with Dan Jackson carrying the Indian flag and other Veteran Warrior Society members posting the colors and retiring the colors at each powwow’s end. 

Many moccasined feet, and beaded and feathered regalia created a swirl of color and sound with jingles tinkling and the drum pounding out a song.

A Graduate Honor Ceremony was Friday evening with SKC graduates followed by high school graduates then middle school and Head Start graduates entering the arena. 

Jet Dumontier was named the SKC Powwow Ambassador in a contest sponsored by SKC President  Sandra Bonham. Dumontier’s duties include attending area powwows and representing SKC.     

Master of Ceremonies was Alex O. Shepherd of Cedar City, Utah, who’s a well-known and well-liked emcee. He kept the powwow dancers and singers going in an orderly fashion.  

 A.J. McDonald served as Arena Director, HeadWoman Dancer was Alana Earthboy, and Head Man Dancer was William Mesteth Jr. 

Drums were: High Wind, White Horse Jrs., Purple Rhino, Starr School, Pistol Creek, Northern Creek, Red Sand, Coyote Creek, Elk Horn, Bad Canyon, Young Grey Horse, YBZ, Willow Creek, and The Singers. 

A full slate of dance contests brought dancers to the floor with finals in each category on Saturday, either at the 1 p.m. powwow or the 7 p.m. performance.

    Participating in the Tiny Tots dance, this young lady is pretty serious about the whole event. (Berl Tiskus/Leader)
  

    A young jingle dancer has every jingle on her outfit tinkling. (Berl Tiskus/Leader)
  

    A Tiny Tot dancer receives a dollar and a bag of candy -- riches. (Berl Tiskus/Leader)