The first grand entry of the 46th annual Standing Arrow Celebration was at 7 p.m. on July 18. The weather was sweltering, especially for dancers in full regalia. The powwow grounds had a new large tent for dancers to stand in as they waited to enter the dance arbor. Tarps attached to the arbor walls on the west side shielded spectators from the setting sun.

Chief Mike Kenmille carried the Kootenai flag and led the Veteran Warriors and dignitaries onto the dance floor for honor songs to begin the celebration.

The tiny moccasin brigade was waiting for the Tiny Tots dance. After working hard on the dance floor and charming all the visitors, the little ones all got a sack of candy and some money. 

Older girls danced traditional and later jingle dances, and boys wearing wonderful colored regalia competed in the boys' fancy dance. 

Other grand entries were held at 1 p.m. Saturday and 7 p.m. Saturday, with the finals on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m.

As usual, Standing Arrow Celebration had lots happening, with $50,000 in prize money for dance contests, a Miss Kootenai and Kootenai Warrior pageant. There was also a $10,000 Stick Game payout, a co-ed softball tournament, and a fun run at 10 a.m. Saturday and a $30,000 drum contest.

For thirsty and hungry dancers or visitors, there were rows of fry bread vendors, coffee trucks, trucks to buy a bread-pan-sized oblong of fries, freshly squeezed lemonade, corn on the cob, water, hamburgers, wings, Indian tacos, ice cream and nachos. The decision was what to eat or where to buy fry bread.

Vendors whose tents were full of Native-themed jackets, fleece blankets, beaded jewelry, silver and turquoise jewelry, hanks of beads and Native print shorts and sportswear sympathized about the heat unless they were from Arizona. 

The dances went on, and a wind blew up as rain sprinkled the area, cooling off the powwow grounds and blessing it with a rainbow and views of the mountains and Flathead Lake. 

    Hailey waits for the Tiny Tots dance at the Standing Arrow Celebration, and she doesn't even know she gets a bag of candy. (Berl Tiskus/Leader)

 An early evening rain shower brought a rainbow to the celebration. (Berl Tiskus/Leader)

 Boys fancy dancers line up in the grand entry, all colors and feathers and brightness. (Berl Tiskus/Leader)