Going to the PowWow

As planned, we went to the Indian PowWow in Cody at the Buffalo Bill Historical Center. This is an annual event that is attended by the tribes from all over the northwest that get together for celebration, dance competition and to show and sell their jewelry, artwork, rugs, and collectibles:


There were probably 50 booths set up along the outside of the huge outside, grassy theatre area at the Historical Center:

We went early enough to walk around to all the booths before the show, or, I should say, competition started at noon. It started with a march of all the competitors into the dancing area to the drums and music of the tribes:

The color guard (above) were later introduced and they were all decorated veterans of the Vietnam and Gulf wars. As they all paraded into the competition area, the area filled with beautiful costumes and probably a hundred dancing contestants, each wearing a number on their colorful dress:

They danced for probably a half hour and then the announcer came on and said there was a tie in the judging of the dance - we didn't realize they were all being judged as they danced around in a big circle. Anyway, the 2 contestants that were tied held a dance-off to determine the winner:

As it turned out, the judges declared a tie and the dancers split the $400 first prize. There were dancers scheduled to compete the whole afternoon in many different categories and age groups. As it was getting late for us, we took one one more shot of one of the contestants that would be dancing later, and we were convinced she would be a winner:

It was a very interesting and entertaining event but we had to leave to get ready for work. It was about 2 PM when we got home and it was off to work by 3:30. Once again, we were sold out in the cabins and Josie closed the gift shop for the first time and did fine.

We are planning to go to Yellowstone on our days off this week - 3 days to go...