Culture and tradition abounded at the 26th Annual Wa:k Pow Wow held March 8-9 on the San Xavier Indian Reservation, just south of Tucson, Ariz. Tribes, tourists and locals gathered to celebrate Native American culture in an event that included dancing, contests, food, music and prayer.

Each year volunteers from the Tohono O'Odham Nation plan and organize the Wa:k Pow Wow. Several Tohono O'Odham committees, including the Francis Feast Committee, St. Mary's Committee and the Holy Cross Committee, are among the planners. Pow Wow proceeds benefit the San Xavier Indian Community.

Sharon Bahr

Although the Tohono O'Odham Nation hosts the Pow Wow, Native Americans from various tribes across the nation come to participate in the event. Some participants, such as those from the Sioux and Dakota tribes, even travel from as far away as the Great Lakes region.

Colorful costumes and headdresses, complete with delicate beadwork, feathers and hand stitching, adorned the many dancers competing for awards. Much of the detail work in the costumes often have a specific meaning. For example, the dress worn by the Jingle dancers has rows of ornaments made from snuff can lids sewn onto the dress, which make a "jingle" sound when the dancer moves, meant to scare off evil spirits.

Some of the other traditional dances present at the Wa:k Pow Wow were the Grass Dance, the Fancy Dance, the Traditional Dance, the Shawl Dance, the Cloth Dance, and the Gourd Dance.

The Wa:k Veterans Association posted the colors (a special ceremony to display various flags) and participants from all over Arizona entered the annual drum contest, including the Host Southern Drum - the Desert Travelers from Tempe - and the Host Northern Drum - the Preyin' Eagle Singers from Mesa.

A variety of traditional food and art booths were also present at the Pow Wow, where visitors could sample freshly prepared Indian Fry Breads and purchase handmade Indian jewlery, pottery, baskets and artwork.

Handmade Indian Jewlery

Sharon Bahr

Click here to learn more about Pow Wows and to locate upcoming Pow Wows.