Sault tribe comes home for biggest powwow of the year

SAULT STE. MARIE — The tribes of the EUP are coming home to celebrate the biggest powwow of the year.

This July 4-7, the Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians is hosting tribal friends from all around to celebrate the 42nd Annual Baaweting Homecoming Powwow.

The Sault tribe hosts more than a dozen powwows each year to celebrate and maintain tribal culture in a modern world. The celebrations do many things such as supporting local vendors, bringing the community together for a celebration and, most importantly, providing an authentic experience on tribal customs and heritage.

Powwows include many traditions, such as the grand entry, carrying of the flags, honoring veterans and elders and presenting many traditional dances and other ceremonies. Dancers in full regalia compete in different categories and will teach traditional dances that have been passed down through the tribe.

The homecoming powwow is the largest powwow event of the year, and the culmination of powwow events throughout the year.

"We have powwows as a way to celebrate our culture and come together as a community, and we host them all throughout our seeded territory," said Sault Tribe Chairman Austin Lowes. "This one is the biggest because we are coming back to our tribal government headquarters."

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The four-day event will take place at the tribe’s powwow grounds off Shunk Road on Ice Circle beginning with a sunrise ceremony and spiritual gathering. The dancing and drum events begin on July 5 with a 7 p.m. grand entry, which includes a procession of flags representing various Native American nations and other groups. A new grand entry will take place every day.

The day will be full of dance performances, some of them traditional and performed by professionals, and some of them contests.

Among the traditional dance categories are traditional, fancy, grass, shawl, jingle and golden age dances. For a $10 registration fee, any adult can join the competition and win up to $1,000. Teen participants can win up to $300 for the same competition.

There will only be one category in the drum competition, which will also include up to five singers with each drum. The winners of the drum competition can win up to $10,000.

— Contact Brendan Wiesner: BWiesner@Sooeveningnews.com