Canada's Tootoosis new Miss Indian World

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400 tribes come together at Gathering of Nations Powwow

Only in its third year of operation the Gathering of Nations Powwow has arrived as a truly international event with the selection of a Canadian as Miss Indian World 1987, but this year's powwow may not have reached last year's attendance record because of where the event was held.

Celeste Kay Tootoosis, 21, a Cree/Assiniboine from the Poundmaker Reserve, near Regina, Saskatchewan was selected over eight other contestants for the crown on the last night of the two-day event. Tootoosis is a student at the University of Regina studying combined Indian studies. Although some 400 tribes from all over North America were represented among the 1,000 plus in attendance it was obvious to many who attended last year's event that the number of Indian vendors was down and the crowds were smaller. The problem stems from the event site according to many powwow goers.

In its second year at the University of New Mexico Arena, also known as the "Pit", many agree that conditions of use placed in powwow organizers and attendees are too restrictive and not condusive to the full growth of traditional powwow activities, especially when it comes to serving traditional Indian food.

"We came to sell fry bread and chilli stew, but they told us we couldn't because they already had a contract with one company to serve all food at the powwow. So now all you can get is hot dogs and popcorn in there," said Harold Parker of Window Rock, Arizona.

Parker, who owns and operates a mobile kitchen and derives 80 per cent of his annual income from selling fry bread and chilli stew at powwows in the Western U.S., says he is upset that the reserve is going to non-Indians for what he calls "white bread food."

"Last year we set up the kitchen in the parking lot and for about four hours we satisfied a lot of hungry people. No sooner than we got starter then the university security guards shut us down," said Parker. "This year I'm just a spectator, but because of what happened last year I even hate giving the (powwow organizers) may $4 to get in."

The reasons for the drop in the number of arts and crafts vendor is not so clear. Whereas approximately 90 pe cent of the available vendor space was filled at the 1986 powwow, only two-thirds of that same space was occupied this year and according to all vendors quired sales for this year were dismal compared to last year.

"There just aren't as many people here this year and the ones who are here are not buying anything," according to Ruby Onidelacy of Laguma Pueblo, New Mexico. "It may be the economy, but I think it has a lot to do with this place (the Pit) because although it's nice and clean, it just doesn't feel like a real powwow."

Primarily because of the $28,000 in prize money offered in the dance competition there was no significant decrease in the number of dancers attending the Gathering of Nations for 1987.

"Something's got to change. They can't offer that much prize money and lose that much business without suffering. I think the best thing they could do is change the site or risk losing it all," said Parker.

Organizers of the powwow said they have no plans to change the site and have already begun planning for next year's powwow.