The Spirit Of Nations Powwow, August 13, 2017

The Spirit of Nations Powwow, when it returns to Patriot Academy on Saturday, August 13, will for the first time feature competition dancing in adult, youth and children’s categories.

“Jefferson County gave us such tremendous support last year when we moved our powwow from Knoxville to Patriot Academy that we wanted to make this year’s event even better,” said Dr. Mark Finchum, president of Indian Creek Productions, Inc., which organizes the powwow. Dr. Finchum is also a history teacher at Patriot Academy.

“We are expecting Native dancers from around the region to showcase their skills in all the various powwow dance categories,” Finchum said.

One of the dancers planning to attend is Randy Solomon of Memphis who is a member of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians and dances in the men’s Northern Traditional style. He has danced for many cultural and heritage programs across the United States and Europe. He also designs beadwork and powwow regalia for other dancers across the country.

Solomon is looking forward to the Spirit of Nations Powwow. “I’ve always been a supporter of powwows in Tennessee.” His desire is to “come and share, educate and have fellowship with all other cultures and races.”

Also coming from Memphis is Fawn Galvin (Paiute – Yaqui) who dances in the Women’s Buckskin style. She is a pediatric physical therapist working with special needs children in the hospital, outpatient clinics and in school systems. Galvin attained the rank of Captain in the U.S. Army Chemical Corps (trained in Nuclear/Biological/Chemical Warfare, and Decontamination/Smoke Operations on the Battlefield). She is also Airborne Qualified.

One of Fawn’s interests, is Native American poetry. Her reasons for dancing can be summed up in these few lines:

“Why do we dance?…

“We dance for Expression of our Present, Future and Past. We dance for Unity and for Our Traditions to Last.
We dance in Celebration of Triumph and of Friends. We dance for healing…for our Spirit to be Cleansed.”

Also competing at the Spirit of Nations Powwow will be Hollie Stover from Cherokee, NC. Stover works at the Cherokee Fitness Center and has only been dancing for a few years.

“I dance because I always wanted to when I was a child. I have always had social anxiety so I never believed I could actually do it. It wasn’t until I was pregnant with Ollie hat I decided to give it a try. I didn’t want her to be scared of culture or anything else for that matter. So I just went and did it. I took first place at my first powwow and I was three months pregnant,” Stover said.

In addition to the competition dancing, there will be a silent auction, crafts and activities for the children, American Indian arts and crafts for sale, flute music, Indian tacos, a hand drum contest, and a special exhibition of Aztec dancing.

The powwow will be open from 10 am to 6 pm at Patriot Academy, 419 W. Dumplin Valley Road, Jefferson City, TN, 37760. Admission is $5 for adults and $1 for children. Parking is free. Additional information is available at www.indiancreekproductions.com or by emailing indiancreekproductions@gmail.com.

Powwow Poster 07312017