Powwow On Prairie Will Revive Ancient Tradition

SNOQUALMIE - Bek'w gwat q'wu! The Sdukwalbixw Indians are holding a tribal gathering and pigw pigw ed this weekend at Sla'hal.

Translation: Everyone gather! The Snoqualmie Indians are holding a tribal gathering and powwow this weekend on the Slahal Prairie.

Last held in 1929 in Tolt, now known as Carnation, the event revives a tradition that continued on a smaller scale until 1956, when the much-loved tribal chief Jerry Kamin died.

Now Tribal Chairman Andy de los Angeles wants to revive the practice as the tribe attempts to renew its history and official recognition. The Snoqualmies were decertified as a Native-American tribe by the federal government in 1952 but recently won a preliminary decision supporting recognition. A final decision from the Bureau of Indian Affairs could come later this year.

The word slahal, for the prairie between Snoqualmie and North Bend, actually means "stick games", a special event at previous gatherings. For hundreds of years, the prairie was the traditional place for tribes from the Pacific Northwest and Canada to meet, trade and play stick games.

The two-day event includes bone games, craft demonstrations, vendor sales, storytelling, drumming, dancing and children's activities.

Among those who will entertain are Bruce Miller and the Skokomish Dancers; storyteller Tom Heidlebaugh of Amish, Irish and Algonquin descent; Grey Eagle, a playwright, of Ojibwe descent; and Wooden Hat

Charlie, a woodcarver and teacher.

Powwow hours are 10:30 a.m. to midnight tomorrow and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at Snoqualmie Middle School.

The powwow is overshadowed by a rift in the tribe, which saw former tribal Chairman Ronald Louzon and followers form a splinter group in July.

That dispute was set aside Wednesday when a Superior Court judge issued an injunction preventing Louzon from interfering with tribal business until a trial is held.

In addition, Louzon and his group are banned from attending this weekend's event.