Honor and tradition

Rosa Velasco-Mendez allows a friend to touch one of the metal cones on her jingle dress. The dancer is one of a select group who will perform the healing jingle dress dance during Saturday’s powwow.

“It’s traditional. It is very special. It means a lot to me to be able to do this,” said 9-year-old Wallace Cox before he began practice for the men’s traditional dance. Cox is one of many students who were scrambling Thursday to don regalia in preparation for Saturday’s 20th annual powwow hosted by the Indian Education program.

Drummers and dancers from throughout the Pacific Northwest, and representing many different tribes, will participate in the cultural, spiritual and social event held at Siuslaw Middle School, which begins with the first grand entry at 1 p.m., during which an honor guard carries in flags of the state and national governments, the POW-MIA flag, and an eagle staff representing all Nations, from a design created before the U.S. flag.



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For the complete article see the 03-13-2013 issue.

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