Indian Country's finest energize fair powwow

(Special to the Times - Donovan Quintero)

Denette Chee, from Shiprock, poses for the camera Friday night in Window Rock. Chee is the newly crowned Navajo Nation Fair Contest Powwow Princess.

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The Navajo Nation Fair Contest Powwow was the place to be this past weekend as 19 singing groups and about 500 registered dancers sang and danced their hearts out.

"It's awesome," said Don Speidel, co-master of ceremonies who traveled from Saskatchewan, Canada, to attend the event. "I really like the environment. I grew up hearing about the legacy of this powwow. I never had the chance to dance here but my parents have and I always heard of the legacy of this powwow.

"This event really shows what 'Indian Pride' is all about," he said. In terms of the economy, Speidel said as he traveled through Canada people continue to travel and hit powwows.

"What recession?" he chuckled. "As Indian folks we make do with what we have. Gas prices have gone up but people are still traveling to powwows. We don't live beyond our needs. We make do with what we have."

The best part of traveling to powwows is having extended families and friends that make it easier for people to travel, he said.

Cheevers Toppah, lead singer for southern drum Thunder Hill, believes that the recession has hit powwow country because big powwows like Schemitzun, which was hosted by the Mashantucket Pequot, had folded. There are other powwows though that continue to attract dancers and singers.

However, the economy hasn't slowed down Toppah and his singing crew.

"Thunder Hill is doing good and is strong as ever," he said. Currently Toppah, Kiowa/Dine, is promoting his latest CD collaboration with Nitanis "Kit" Landry and Alex E. Smith, called "Rain in July." In late October Thunder Hill will have a new CD that was recorded live in Norman, Okla.

"It's been received pretty good," he said about the harmonized singing album. "It's a lot different for us as far as harmony's go."

People continuously ask for new material, which is pleasing because when they stop asking, then that is something to worry about, he said.

"The (Navajo Nation Fair) powwow is pretty good," Toppah said. "I'm surprised that a lot of big name drum groups are here. I didn't expect this kind of a turn out. There's a lot of people here. A lot of dancers and singers."

Some of Indian Country's finest drum groups, like The Boyz and Eyabay of Minnesota, Black Lodge and Wild Rose of Washington, Dry Lake and Eagle Whistle of Montana, attended this year's celebration and competed for the singing cash prize of $10,000 plus a cargo trailer.

The Navajo Nation's own finest drums also made their presence known with drums like Eagle Creek of Dennehotso, Ariz., Stone Creek of Red Mesa, Yellowbird Southern of Albuquerque, Long Walk Descendents of Blue Water, N.M., and Callin' Eagle of Window Rock, just to name a few.

On Saturday evening the new Navajo Nation Fair Contest Powwow Princess was crowned. The new princess is Denette Chee, 17, of Shiprock, N.M.

She is currently a junior at Shiprock High School and is the daughter of Donald and Sheila Chee. She is the eldest of three siblings; Janelle, 14; Donovan, 10; and Darnell, 9.

Chee is of the Ozee' Tachii'nii (Hopi/Red Running into Water Clan) born for the Todichii'nii (Bitter Water Clan). Her maternal grandparents Bitahnii (Folded Arms People Clan) and Tachii'nii (Red Running into Water Clan).

"The committee had asked me in June if I wanted to be the next representative for the committee and the powwow," she said. "It feels good. They know that I travel a lot for powwows and they felt that I could carry the crown and represent the committee and the Navajo people.

"I never thought I would have an opportunity like this," she said. "I've ran for pageants before but to be asked is such an honor."

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