On a rainy, overcast day, many gathered for a powwow at the North Segment-Northern Lights gymnasium in New Town, North Dakota to welcome back the Merrick family. The gymnasium was filled with the sound of drums and voices of many as they sang to the beat.
On that day, everyone was there to welcome back on old friend. Tyson Merrick and his family had hosted the event, in memory of his older brother, Kenny Merrick Jr. Tyson’s brother had passed a year ago due to health problems.
“In our cultural ways, you are taught to respect your loved ones by putting things away for a while. My father taught us, ‘In honor of your brother, you put away what you love’, which is singing,” he explained.
Kenny loved to sing at powwows. In order to honor and respect him, the Merrick family had to put their singing on hold.
Powwows have different meaning to most. Some go to dance, some go to sing, and some may go as spectators. Chaske LaBlanc knew Kenny and his family. He described Kenny as a compassionate and giving person. He was a powwow dancer and had traveled from his hometown in Minnesota to welcome back Tyson and his family.
“Everyone dances for different reasons,” he began.
Chaske dances for his family—being his children and wife. He hopes to teach his children what his grandparents taught him, “not to be ashamed”. He was wearing his dancing outfit, which he proudly announced that was beaded by his wife. He wasn’t the only one in his family dancing that day.
“One of my babies is out there, she’s four,” he said with a smile.
Outside of the gymnasium were rows of tables placed around with beaded earrings and necklaces, blankets, and snacks. Mary Topsky was sitting by at one of the tables, listening to the singers’ voices echo from the gymnasium to her stand.
“I feel really comfortable when I come here,” she explained.
Mary Topsky had been going to powwows since she was a young girl. She described powwows as family gatherings— everyone is always kind and welcoming. Currently, Mary has changed her dancing style to fit a new style created for elder dancers.
“I feel free when I get out there and just enjoy myself,” she glowed. There were people attending the powwow from Indian Nations from all over the country and Canada.
“The more you come to the powwow, the more people you know,” shared Mary as a gentleman walked up to her stand.
Women and men walked around in their traditional dancing attire, each different and very intricately designed. Like Chaske, each person wore it proudly.
“As you can see, they are all starting to dress like each other” Mary described as three women, dressed in their traditional attire, walked passed, “even though they come from different tribes.”
Some resembled each other but, nonetheless, were very different in color, beads, and feathers, even though they were from different tribes.
All came from different places to celebrate life at the powwow. While some proudly sang, others gathered around the middle to dance. People come to powwows for different reasons. Today, everyone was gathered to remember Kenny, who loved to sing. Tyson and his family were moved by everyone in attendance.