Patricia Stoltey

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Northern Colorado Intertribal Pow-wow

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I couldn’t help myself. I was back into drumming (or at least listening to the drums) yesterday.

This photo is one of at least ten drums at the Intertribal Pow-wow held at the Colorado State University Equine Center in Fort Collins, Colorado on Mother’s Day. The women standing with their backs to the cameras are singers.

I didn’t get many clear pictures of the dancers in action. I was playing with the zoom on my camera and messed up the settings big time. Couldn’t resist putting this one in though. This little guy was moving fast, shaking his feathers and moving his feet as though he’d been dancing for years. I couldn’t move that fast if I tried.

There are two film clips of host drummers, one group from South Dakota and the other from Oklahoma, at the NCIPA Powwow 2010 website.

What does this have to do with writing? Nothing. It has to do with taking the day off from anything remotely connected to writing, which is what I did.

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Comments

  1. I am a big fan of pow-wows, especially smaller ones like this one. Another favorite is the Annual Denver March Pow-Wow that’s held around the third week in March. The feather-covered young warrior moved pretty fast!

  2. Thanks for the birthday wishes, my friends. I must have dropped that fact into a blog comment…yep, I remember…how cool that you noticed and then dropped by. That’s sweet!

  4. Patricia – nothing to do with YOUR writing – everything to do with mine. My current wip has a pow wow, has dancers, I’ve been immersed in this for weeks and flipped to see your pictures and good links! You never know where you might find inspiration. If there is anything you are needing info about that I could help you with – let me know! Thanks so MUCH…

  5. I happen to like the blur. It gives the picture a certain energy as well as a softness in that energy.

    And Happy Birthday to you!

  7. That second picture is so brilliant and colorful — I love it. 🙂 And a very, very Happy Birthday to you dear lady!

  8. Steve, I’ve been to those kinds of reenactments too, and they’re lots of fun. But attending a real intertribal pow-wow and dance contest is even better. One young woman with an amazing voice sang the National Anthem in her own language. Since you live in California, I’ll bet you don’t live all that far from a venue that hosts one of these events.

  9. Sounds like a great cultural experience. The closest we get to something like this are reenactments from Indians at Knotts Berry Farm, a country western themed amusement park we visit. The kids love to watch the shows.

    Stephen Tremp

  10. Well worth it I’m sure! I love these kinds of events. The dancing is the absolute best, especially the hoops dance. It’s my favorite.

  11. What incredible pictures – would not have looked as energising had they not been blurred in motion.

    And wishing you many many many happy returns of the day. Health, wealth and happiness forever.

  14. I’ll bet the Pow-wow was energizing! Sometimes taking a step back will refill the well. Thanks for dropping by my blog today!

  17. I usually go to our local Pow wow’s one in April and one on Veteran’s day. I really enjoy the dancing and the drum contests. It is good to take a day off. I took yesterday off too and cleaned the house. It made me feel so much lighter yesterday evening.