The First Nez Perce Pow Wow
Since the covid-19 outbreak in 2020.
Reunited at last!
Click on image to view large picture
Click on image to view large picture
Pow Wows
are an important part of the Native American culture. It is the Native American people’s way of getting together, to join in dancing, singing, visiting, renewing old friendships, and making new ones. It is a time to renew Native American culture and preserve the rich heritage of American Indians.ย
Until COVID-19 interrupted everyone’s life, the big Nez Perce POW WOW called Tamkaliks takes place always the weekend before Chief Joseph Days in Wallowa, Oregon.ย
The video displays a brief insight into the 2021 Nez Perce Encampment Pavilion that takes place every year during Chief Joseph Days east of the Harley Tucker Rodeo Arena.ย
Each dance session begins with a Grand Entry, including a procession of dancers. The Flag Bearers lead the procession carrying the Eagle Staff, American Flag, The Canadian Flag, and frequently, the MIA-POW Flag. Being a Flag Bearer is an honor usually given to a veteran, a respected traditional dancer, or a traditional elder. Everyone is asked to stand during the Grand Entry and men should remove their head coverings unless it has an eagle feather. After all the dancers are in the Arbor, a flag song is sung to honor the Eagle Staff and flags. Then a respected person, usually an elder, offers a prayer. This is followed by a victory song during which the Eagle Staff and flags are placed in their stands.ย
The dance displayed in this short video is the Circle Dance.ย ย A dance of friendship where everyone can join in. The circle of dancers moves to the left in the clockwise direction and three circle dance songs will be sung in succession.
For more information about the Nez Perce Tribe visit https://nezperce.org
Encampment Highlight Gallery
The pictures in this gallery reflect only the highlights from the event. Pictures are not for sale, but are donated back to the Nez Perce Tribe
ย ~ย Angelika Ursula Dietrich – Wild Horses Thunder ~
For the complete coverage of the Encampment read the “Chief Joseph Days” article in the Nimiipuu Tribal Tribune starting on page 6.
ANGELIKA URSULA DIETRICH, owner and publisher of Wild Horses Thunder and Wild Horses Media Productions, is a professional Photographer, Videographer, Publisher, Writer, Social Media Consultant, and Website Developer.
Angelika’s photography work has been displayed on the front cover of Idaho Magazine (2022), the Nimiipuu Tribal Tribune, Cowboy Lifestyle Network (2021), Cowboys & Indians (2016 & 2018), and in various Oregon and Washington entertainment and vacation publications, Chief Joseph Days Rodeo Program and website (2012-2020), at Art Gallery Festivals, private businesses, as well as for display advertisement for many clients in and out of Wallowa County including the Wallowa County Chieftain (2003-2007). Between 2007 and 2009, Angelika worked in radio as the news and sports director for owners Lee and Carol Lee Perkins at KWVR Radio in Enterprise, Oregon. After the station was sold, she created Wallowa Valley Online, an independent online news magazine publishing and writing news and engaging in photojournalism. After ten years of Wallowa Valley Online, Angelika decided to concentrate on her professional photography, write more human interest stories, and volunteer at the Nez Perce Wallowa Homeland.
Regarding my writing: “As a grandchild of post-war Europe (ethnic ancestry Bohemian/Austrian/German) and former Army spouse, I have lived and visited many places across the globe. Wallowa County, Oregon, has been my home since 2002. I am the daughter of a mom whose country violently vanished post-WWII. Her family was forcefully removed from Bohemia in 1946 when she was only six years young and sent to West Germany in cattle wagons. Her life story has tremendously impacted my own and formed my views on humanity and, at times, the lack thereof.
My formal college education is in the nursing field and psychology, which finds itself in my work as a writer and photographer. I am a humanitarian by heart and soul.” ~Angelika Ursula Dietrich
