Midwest SOARRING Foundation will celebrate its 20th Annual Harvest Pow Wow at Naper Settlement on September 20 and 21, 2014. Hours are 11 AM to 10 PM on Saturday and 11 AM to 5PM on Sunday. The Pow Wow is a family-friendly gathering open to everyone and offers an opportunity to experience Native American culture and colorful ceremonies.
Throughout this educational weekend, organizers promise the sounds of Native American drumming, sights of dancers in regalia (native clothing) and many native shopping opportunities. Items such as turquoise jewelry, beads, baskets, drums, blankets, hides and moccasins as well as native food will be available for purchase throughout the wide array of vendors displaying their unique goods.
Be sure to bring a camera. Teachers and youngsters dressed in native attire enjoy telling about their heritage and posing for photos.
Spectacular Grand Entry at 1PM & 7PM Saturday
The Grand Entry of all the dancers will be held at 1PM and 7PM on Saturday and 1PM on Sunday with special Exhibition Dances held throughout the weekend.
Laura Grizzlypaws, a Grizzly Bear Dancer from the St’at’imc First Nation of Lilooet, British Columbia, will perform her grizzly dance at 3PM and 8PM on Saturday. Laura’s St’át’imc name is “Stálhalamcen – Grizzly Paws.” She belongs to the people of Xwisten, the Bear Clan, organizers said.
Other highlights this year include a special Veteran Honoring with a memorable history lesson at the 1PM Grand Entries on both days.
Throughout the event, Little Bear Hoop Dancers from the Menominee Tribal School will entertain. Visitors will be able to get close to an American Bald Eagle and other birds of prey presented by S.O.A.R, Save Our American Raptors.
At 5PM on Saturday, Huguito Gutierrez and Ancestral Roots, an Andean music trio, will perform.
Aztec dance performances by Ocelotl-Cihuacoatl are scheduled at Noon on Saturday and at 11:30AM on Sunday.
A 22-foot tipi and elm bark wigwam will be on display. Visitors can enjoy native storytelling and native flute player, Al Jewer.
Create crafts & arrowheads
The Children’s Area, open from 11AM-5PM both days, hosts crafts, games, flintknapping (making arrowheads) educational information for children and adults alike.
Admission to the Pow Wow including access to the Naper Settlement buildings and museum (during regular museum hours) is $10 for adults and $7 for seniors (62+) and children (3-12). Children under 3 are FREE.
The admission fee will go to support Midwest SOARRING Foundation and its programs. This is an alcohol and drug-free event and is open to everyone. Sorry, no pets allowed on the Settlement grounds. This event is partially supported by a SECA grant from the City of Naperville.
For more information and the running schedule of events, call (708) 257-4300 or visit www.midwestsoarring.org or www.harvestpowwow.com.
