The Commercial-News, Danville, IL

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June 16, 2008

Program to introduce people to powwows

Library to display Native American art

STAFF REPORT

DANVILLE — If you plan to attend the National Powwow XIV next month, you might want to be prepared.

Danville residents John and Barbara Dreher will share their experiences attending and participating in several national powwows on Wednesday night.

The program, “Getting the Most Out of the National Powwow,” will be 6-7:30 p.m. in the first-floor meeting room at the Danville Public Library, 319 N. Vermilion St.

The couple will have displays of previous national powwow program books and photos and will offer tips on powwow etiquette.

This year, Dreher is the site chairman for the powwow, which will be July 9-12 at the Vermilion County Fairgrounds.

John is part Crow by birth, and Barbara is Crow by marriage and adoption.

Both have won awards for beadwork, craftwork and dancing. Barbara has won awards in shawl dancing and traditional dancing.

Both have served as craft judges at the Kaskaskia River Dancers Powwow in Mattoon 1994-2001 and at Tecumseh Lodge Powwow on Labor Day weekend at Tipton, Ind., since 1979.

This is the third time the powwow has been held in Vermilion County. The first one was in 1975 for Powwow III. The Na-tional Powwow returned in 2005 for Powwow XIII.

National Powwow is a nonprofit Indian hobbyist organization whose members, both Indian and non-Indian, gather every third year to celebrate life and a common culture.

The groups’ goals are to promote education, foster interest in Native American culture, honor their veterans and recognize accomplishments of their elders and youth.

Spectators can expect to see traditional Indian dances performed in full regalia, Indian arts of all types and authentic tipi encampments.

Traders will be on hand with silver jewelry, beadwork, belts, elk- and moose-hide moccasins, shawls, ribbonwork, clothing, kachinas, animal fetishes, Pendleton Indian blankets, cotton serape blankets, feathers and hides, books, videos, cassettes and CDs.

Traders will include supplies for people who want to make the items themselves.

The library also is hosting exhibits, prepared by Barbara Dreher, of items representing different Native American tribes to help visitors become acquainted with the art and culture that will be available at the National Powwow.

Tribes represented in the displays include Ojibwa, Crow, Lakota, Southwestern, Alaskan, Seminole, Apache and Cheyenne.

The exhibits are located on both floors of the library. Some of the items on the first floor will be for sale at the powwow.

The National Powwow will be open to the public each day between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. for a donation of $3 per adult, $1 for children under 12 and all-day parking for $2.

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