Milk River Indian Days Just Around the Corner
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After two years of dealing with the Covid-19 Pandemic and having to navigate a plethora of lock downs, restrictions and safety measures the annual Milk River Indian Days Powwow is back and ready to bring celebration and healing back to the community. In 2021 the celebration and gathering was limited to local dancers and drummers and was just a one-day event. The 58th Annual Milk River Indian Days is scheduled for July 28-31, 2022 and is expected to be the largest in many years. This year over $100,000 in prize money will be awarded as well as an additional $25,000 in special dance categories where an entry can win as much as $2,500.
Dominic Messerly has a huge hand in organizing the celebration and explains the significance of the three-day gathering. "A huge part of the celebration and why we gather is the belief that the song and dance and the spirit of cultural tradition has a healing component to it. These songs and these dances have that healing power to help people suffering from disease, illness, mental health and sickness even if for just a minute or two and that's important." Remembering those lost and honoring their lives is significant as well, "Coming together and being able to see family members from across Indian Nations that we don't see every day is also important."
This week we focus on the incredible quality of Drum Bands coming to be a part of the Milk River Indian Days celebration, "We have drums coming to headline that are World Class Singing Champions. Thunder Hill from Weatherford Oklahoma is a past winner of Gathering of Nations World Class Championship of Song and Dance, the largest Powwow in North America held each year in Albuquerque, New Mexico. We will also have Show Time, the 2022 World Champions from Pine Ridge South Dakota."
In maintaining the tradition of healing those who listen to the songs and see into the dancers and the tradition they represent Messerly wants the best, "That is the main reason why we work so hard to bring the very best drummers, the very best dancers. To heal our people and to come together. This year we expect to be on the level of the Rocky Boy Powwow with people from all over Canada and the United States coming," concluded Messerly.
